Deal closer: Arsenal agree initial fee to sign “monster” £60m CF, Saka will love him – Report…

Deal closer: Arsenal have reached an initial agreement to sign a “monster” £60m striker, which Saka will surely appreciate – opinion.

Andrea Berta’s mission this summer is straightforward. Secure a new striker or face the discontent of Arsenal supporters globally.

To his credit, the Italian has performed admirably in the first month of the summer transfer window, yet there remains much to accomplish, and a full assessment will be deferred until the market closes.

Although the Gunners have yet to announce any new acquisitions, three players are on the horizon: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and most notably, Martin Zubimendi.

Lauded by Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente as “one of the best midfielders in the world,” European football analyst Sid Lowe has previously remarked that the 26-year-old “is arguably the best deep-lying midfielder in Europe, second only to Rodri.”

Thus, it is clear that he is a highly skilled player.

However, and this is crucial, Mikel Arteta and his team have not yet secured a new forward.

Latest updates on Arsenal’s search for a new striker

There seem to be two potential candidates for the new no.9 position at Arsenal: Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.

Sesko was targeted by the Gunners last summer, but the Slovenian ultimately opted to extend his contract with RB Leipzig. He has remained in Germany for an additional year but is widely anticipated to depart the Bundesliga this window.

Regrettably for Arsenal, Leipzig had been asking for a fee between €80m (£68m) and €100m (£85m) for the striker. Recently, the German publication BILD has indicated that they are now prepared to reduce that to approximately €70m (£60m) with add-ons.

If that price is maintained, it would not be surprising to see Arsenal make a competitive offer.

The situation regarding Gyokeres is also intricate, especially following a reported dispute with the Sporting hierarchy concerning the conditions of his departure.

A report from the Portuguese outlet O Jogo has disclosed that the Swedish player’s club is seeking a sum of €80m (£68m), which differs from what was initially agreed upon before the summer.

The article further mentions that the Gunners have already reached an ‘agreement’ with the player’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, concerning a transfer fee.

Cetinkaya is reportedly ‘banking’ on a figure of approximately €60m plus €10m in add-ons (£60m in total), a sum that they assert was settled with both the player’s agent and Sporting prior to the transfer window opening.

Thus, regardless of who Arteta manages to acquire, it is probable that the Gunners will end up spending around the £70m range.

Why Gyokeres could elevate Bukayo Saka’s performance

If the 2024/25 season demonstrated anything, it is that Arsenal relies heavily on Bukayo Saka. This, however, should not come as a shock.

He has been the club’s standout player in recent seasons, evidenced by his 12 goals, making him the second-highest scorer at the club, along with 14 assists last season, leading in that particular category.

Saka achieved these statistics while being sidelined for several months due to a long-term hamstring injury.

During his absence, the Gunners faced significant challenges. Despite the rise of prodigy Ethan Nwaneri, Arteta’s squad depth on the right side was laid bare.

Their overall quality in the attacking third was also lacking, especially when Kai Havertz faced a hamstring injury as well.

While Saka was out, Arsenal dropped points in five of the 12 league matches he missed, points that ultimately became detrimental to their title aspirations.

They also managed to score more than two goals in only two of those games, specifically the 5-1 defeat against Manchester City and the 3-1 victory over Brentford.

Therefore, Saka is undeniably vital, as is the need for a new centre-forward. The prospect of Arsenal’s top player linking up with a striker as effective as Gyokeres is an exciting one.

When it comes to pure goalscoring, no player in Europe can match his prowess. He scored an impressive 54 goals in 52 matches last season, and given Arsenal’s need for goals, he should be their top target this summer.

Journalist Alex Turk has referred to him as a “monster,” which perfectly encapsulates his skills within the penalty area. His performance over the past few years has been nothing short of extraordinary.

For Saka, this partnership should be ideal. While Gyokeres is a prolific goalscorer, Saka excels in creativity. Last season, the right-winger led the Premier League in expected assists per 90 minutes (0.41), shot-creating actions per 90 (6.09), and goal-creating actions per 90 (1.20).