Benjamin Sesko £50m bombshell will feel like missed moment for Arsenal they'll regret

Mikel Arteta is likely regretting Arsenal's missed opportunity to sign Benjamin Sekso last summer, as his chase for Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres appears to have hit the buffers.

Arteta has been on the hunt for a prolific striker for over a year, with significant efforts made to bring RB Leipzig's Sesko to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners' struggles in front of goal were a key reason they missed out on the Premier League title last season. Injuries to crucial attacking players allowed Liverpool to charge ahead and secure their 20th top-flight title.

READ MORE: Ethan Nwaneri fires cryptic Viktor Gyokeres message as Arsenal finalise transfer details

READ MORE: Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal transfer twist as rival club emerge after Victor Osimhen snub

With the pursuit of Gyokeres now seemingly at a standstill due to a significant difference in valuation for the high-scoring forward, Arsenal might be looking back with regret at the extensive efforts made to sign Sesko over the past 18 months.

Sesko, 22, ultimately chose to remain with the German side last summer, believing that staying with Leipzig would be best for his career progression.

The Independent, however, say a deal could have been agreed for just £50million (€58m).

The new contract he signed, coupled with his impressive tally of 21 goals in all competitions last season, ultimately saw his value skyrocket to between £69m (€80m) and £86m (€100m) this summer. This led Arsenal to abandon their pursuit of Sesko and shift their focus to Gyokeres, 27, reports the Mirror.

However, Sporting's reported demand of an upfront payment of £60m (€70m) from the Gunners, plus an additional £8m (€9.2m) in add-ons, serves as a harsh reality check for Arteta. The club could have met Leipzig's demands last summer, saving them a significant amount of money compared to Sporting's asking price for Gyokeres.

Not only would this have provided Arteta with the striker he craved throughout last season, but it would also have been more cost-effective, with Sporting's valuation of Gyokeres far exceeding Leipzig's 2024 asking price for Sesko.

It remains to be seen if they will renew their interest in Sesko yet, but convincing the Slovenian star could prove challenging, given he knows any move for him would be due to a failed attempt to sign Gyokeres. Nevertheless, he was their previous top choice.

Arteta is keen to bolster his attacking options before Arsenal jet off to Singapore for their pre-season tour of Asia on July 19. Swedish international Gyokeres has expressed his desire to join the Gunners this summer, with reports suggesting he has no plans to play for the Portuguese outfit again.

Despite interest from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal emerged as the favourites to secure the signature of former Coventry City star.

The Gunners' sporting director, Andrea Berta, recently visited Portugal in an attempt to strike a deal, but according to Portuguese publication Record, negotiations have stalled over the fee.

Personal terms for a five-year contract with Gyokeres are already agreed upon, with additional clauses related to goal and trophy bonuses.

Since August 2023, he has netted an impressive 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting. Sesko has scored 39 goals and provided eight assists in 87 matches for Leipzig.

This summer, Arsenal have already brought in Martiin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, with Brentford skipper Christian Norgaard set to be the next signing announced.