Arsenal are willing to make a big deal in January, but only if they can land a primary target.
They have been eyeing the top striker, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, who could move this summer with Arsenal in pole position. The Gunners will now see if they can tempt RB Leipzig into a deal to boost the rest of their season with a striker.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made it clear that the club is on the market and that there has been a dialogue with the hierarchy, including Josh Kroenke, to strengthen the squad. Sesko, 21, has a gentleman's deal worth around £60m that would allow him to leave in the summer and any club would have to make an offer to tempt them into doing business now.
RB Leipzig have had a disastrous Champions League campaign – they failed to qualify after six defeats – but are still well-placed in the Bundesliga. Arsenal wanted Sesko last summer, but the Slovenian striker decided to stay for another year rather than share his duties with Kai Havertz, who had just had an excellent season.
But Arsenal have kept in touch, are committed to the case and are seen as the frontrunners despite growing interest in the striker. It still remains a slim chance that RB Leipzig will be sold, but a bigger offer could tempt them and there is still a feeling that Arsenal are ready to do business.
But they are reluctant to compromise and occasionally strike a deal. They then end up with a player who ultimately cannot take their team to the next level.
They did a good deal for Leandro Trossard from Brighton in January 2023 and the £27 million deal has turned out to be good business, but it would be a different story to spend a huge amount of money on a big name who wasn't the first choice .
Arsenal are also keen to strengthen their ample options, but that may have to wait until the summer. Athletic Bilbao's No.1 winger Nico Williams is unavailable in January and wants a wage deal in excess of £300,000-a-week.
Arteta has been open about his desire to bring in reinforcements this month, saying: “At the moment we don't have any. [a striker]. We are, as I said, actively trying to find the best possible solution.
“We will have to wait and see what we can do. That is obviously not something I am going to discuss here. We have lost two big players for us on the front line and we need some support there.”
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