Huge Arsenal transfer that is 'nearly done' could still collapse as Man Utd have green light

Arsenal are set to make a move for a new striker in the summer transfer window, but could face a tough decision over which of their top targets to pursue. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has been one of the leading names mentioned to solve the club's problem position.

The Gunners have not lived up to expectations in the . Mikel Arteta's squad are 15 points adrift of champions and are battling to maintain second place ahead of their match against United this weekend.

Much of the criticism has been directed at Arsenal's inability to sign a striker, either last summer or in the January window. The issue was made worse by injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. RB Leipzig star Sesko is one of the main names being linked with filling the number nine spot, but two obstacles could stop him from making a move to the Emirates Stadium.

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The has reported that are still weighing up whether to go for Sesko or Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres. The latter has maintained his impressive form in Portugal, scoring 52 goals in 50 appearances, while Sesko has scored 21 times for a struggling Leipzig team.

Sesko, 21, is five years younger than Gyokeres and could offer better value for Arsenal's money in the long-term. However, Sporting striker Gyokeres is seen as more of a finished product and is reportedly available for around £60million.

The arrival of Andrea Berta as Arsenal's sporting director has reignited speculation over the club's pursuit of former Coventry City star Gyokeres. This is despite the Independent reporting that the majority of necessary groundwork has already been completed to secure Sesko's services.

Arsenal expressed interest in Sesko last summer but opted not to proceed until the transfer of Eddie Nketiah to was confirmed. By then, Sesko had agreed to an extension with RB Leipzig, who are facing the possibility of a season without European competition.

Sesko's agent Elvis Basanovic previously justified his client's decision to stay at Leipzig. When asked earlier in the season if Sesko was the solution to Arsenal's striker issue, Basanovic replied: "I think you should ask Mr. Arteta about that. But I think Sesko could suit many clubs because he has different football skills," he told .

Basanovic shared the reasoning behind Sesko's new deal: "We can see that our decision was correct. Six months later, he is already a better striker than he was last season," he said.

"What he lacks is experience. We must not forget that he is only 21 years old, so we did not want him to go to the Premier League in the summer. There were concrete options, but we consciously decided to stay in the Bundesliga to give him time to progress and develop into a better striker."

Arsenal's focus on signing a centre-forward could inadvertently benefit Manchester United's summer transfer plans. Both United and the Gunners have been linked with star Matheus Cunha in recent months.

While Arsenal remain interested in the Brazil international, it is Ruben Amorim's side who are widely reported to be winning the race for his signature. Cunha has scored 15 goals in 31 league games for Wolves this season.

United will be eager to freshen up their attacking options as their forwards have struggled to score goals consistently. is the club's top scorer in the Premier League with eight.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike are still on Arsenal's watchlist, albeit further down than Sesko and Gyokeres. However, despite the club's fondness for the striker, a potential transfer for Newcastle's Alexander Isak seems improbable.

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