Arsenal set for immediate Benjamin Sesko meeting amid Viktor Gyokeres transfer vindication wait

Arsenal could see a nightmare Benjamin Sesko transfer scenario play out early into the 2025/26 Premier League season. Sporting director Andrea Berta was locked in talks with RB Leipzig for the Slovenia international before focus switched onto Viktor Gyokeres.

Having done groundwork on both, the Gunners were able to advance swiftly in a deal for Gyokeres though there was a significant amount of delay when it came to agreeing the structure of add-ons with Sporting CP.

Eventually, a full agreement was reached with the Swede having his switch confirmed last weekend. He has since joined up with his new teammates in Asia, taken part in training and made his debut with Mikel Arteta sending him in for the final 15 or so minutes of the pre-season friendly against north London rivals Tottenham

As for Sesko, he remains a Leipzig player but there is plenty of interest from the Premier League in taking on his services. With Alexander Isak seemingly set for a move to Liverpool, Newcastle United may be hoping to sign the 22-year-old as his replacement.

However, Manchester United are also interested and appear to be leading the race for his signature with the Athletic reporting that they will prioritise a pursuit of Sesko over Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea.

Their report has added that the Bundesliga outfit want €75million (£67.4m) guaranteed which is less than what Arsenal were told would be his asking price. While not pushing for a move, it is being widely-reported that Sesko would prefer a move to Man United over Newcastle.

If that proves to be the case and Sesko joins Ruben Amorim's side, he will come up against Arsenal and Gyokeres on the opening day of the new campaign as the Gunners travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, August 17.

Though it will not overly matter in the long-term, Mikel Arteta will want immediate vindication that the right striker was signed and a Gyokeres goal in an Arsenal win would certainly do that.

However, Sesko shining and the Gunners dropping points will see them get off to a far from ideal start in search of finally winning the Premier League title.

Even if the worst does happen, concern should not be too high with an example from a few years ago proving as such. In the Community Shield final, both Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez made their competitive debuts for Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively.

While the latter scored in a 3-1 victory and Haaland missed an open goal, the Norway international went on to break multiple goal-scoring records on the way to City's historic treble while Nunez now looks set for a departure from Anfield.

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