Arsenal Board Advocates for £150m Striker as Primary Target
Several board members at Arsenal are expressing a desire for the £150 million star to become the club’s foremost target for a striker position.
A significant faction within the Arsenal board is advocating for a high-profile forward to be the primary target for enhancing Mikel Arteta’s attacking lineup, recognizing the urgent need for a prolific new striker in the near future.
Arsenal Compiles Striker Options as Ayto and Garlick Evaluate Candidates.
In the wake of Edu’s departure as sporting director last month, Jason Ayto has assumed the role on an interim basis, with managing director Richard Garlick assisting in the transfer strategy.
Ayto is considered a strong candidate for the permanent sporting director position due to his close collaboration with Edu.
However, until a permanent appointment is made or an external replacement is secured, recruitment efforts will proceed as usual.
One of the primary objectives for Ayto and Garlick is to secure a world-class striker capable of delivering 20 or more goals each season for Arteta.
Arsenal made an attempt to acquire Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig during the summer following his standout 2023/2024 season, but the young Slovenian opted to extend his contract with the Bundesliga club.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the 21-year-old has a gentlemen’s agreement allowing him to leave Leipzig either next year or in 2026, and reports indicate that Arsenal continues to monitor Sesko for a potential future transfer.
However, Sesko is not the only striker on their radar; Ayto and Garlick’s list reportedly includes Viktor Gyokeres, Dusan Vlahovic, Manfred Ugalde, and Joao Pedro, all of whom have been linked to the club recently.
Additionally, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak remains a player of interest for Arsenal, as indicated by various reports over the past few months.
The Swedish international has established himself as a reliable centre-forward in the Premier League, netting 25 goals across all competitions last season.
Currently, he finds himself in a contractual dispute at St. James’ Park.
This situation has attracted the attention of several top-tier clubs regarding Isak, who could be valued at approximately £150 million, with Arsenal reportedly keen to secure his services.
Numerous members of the Arsenal board are advocating for Isak as a primary target for the striker position.
Some reports suggest that Arsenal is considering a bid for Isak in 2025, and The Daily Mail (via GMS) indicates that he is viewed as a highly sought-after addition within the organization.
It appears that many board members are prioritizing Isak to enhance Arteta’s attacking options, acknowledging the necessity of acquiring a new goal scorer to reduce dependence on Kai Havertz.
Gabriel Jesus recently delivered an impressive hat-trick, securing Arsenal’s advancement to the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a narrow 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace.
However, his goal tally stands at just four for the season across all competitions.
In contrast, Isak has achieved double that number, along with four additional assists.
Nevertheless, there are indications that Arsenal may need to exceed their previous transfer record to acquire Isak, making the pursuit a challenging one.