Gossip
- Sport
- Football
WAT THE HECK?
The Gunners tried to sign Watkins in January
- Chisanga Malata, Senior Digital & Print Combat Sports Reporter
ARSENAL have put their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres on hold and reignited their interest in Ollie Watkins, it has been claimed.
The Gunners held talks with Sporting Lisbon hitman Gyokeres' agent earlier this week over a summer move to the Emirates.
6
6
6
But according to reports, Arsenal have temporarily shelved their interest in the super Swede to re-examine a move for Aston Villa's Watkins.
Portuguese newspaper Record claims the Gunners' Gyokeres stance is because Sporting won't reduce their asking price.
That's despite Gyokeres reportedly snubbing Manchester United by telling his representatives to get him to the Emirates.
Arsenal are said to have had an initial £55million bid rejected by Sporting, who reportedly want the former Coventry Cityman's £85m release clause to be met.
It is claimed last season's Champions League semi-finalists returned with an improved offer of £60m but also had that knocked back.
The Arsenal top brass are said to have grown frustrated with the saga.
So much so that they are now apparently exploring the cheaper option of signing Watkins from Villa or Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
The Gunners made a last-ditch bid to sign Watkins in January - But their offer was rejected as it fell short of Villa's £80m valuation of the England international.
Most read in Football
CITY PUNISHEDMan City slapped with fine as they accept breaching Prem rule nine times
HEALTH CONCERNKylian Mbappe hospitalised after being forced out of Club World Cup clash
TRANSFER LATESTLiverpool 'eye' RECORD Isak deal, Wirtz announcement IMMINENT
TAKE YOUR VIKViktor Gyokeres 'tells family which club he expects to join this summer'
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
6
6
Villa will likely demand a similar fee for the 29-year-old striker.
Signing prolific Leipzig hitman Sesko could end up being a cheaper option so long as they don't get into a bidding war with German giants Bayern Munich, who are also keen on the Slovenian.
Viktor Gyokeres responds as he is asked if he 'likes London' amid Arsenal transfer links
But a bidding war could very well be on the cards as Sesko is on the radar of Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is hoping the arrival of multiple summer reinforcements will help his troops go one better in the Premier League next season.
He said of the transfer window: “It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it.
“The way we planned the first five summers, they were going to be very big and they were going to have different objectives.
“In the beginning, there were a lot of players with three, four or five-year contracts.
"So the turnaround of the squad and how you visualise thenextfive years was very dependent on that.
“There are certain positions we didn’t expect to have someone likeEthan NwaneriorMyles Lewis-Skellycontributing to, which has been great.
6
“The way you start to evolve, you start to master certain things then the changes cannot be that much.
"That’s where we are. The line now is thinner, the margins are smaller.
"But the cost of that, as well, increases. So it goes a little bit in a different direction.
“We want to increase the depth of the squad.
Read More on The Sun
"But as well, we want to increase the quality and the skills we need to go to thenextstep.
“It’s a big summer for many things because first of all we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team.”
