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Arsenal ponder transfer U-turn following demand from No.1 target Benjamin Sesko

  /  autty

Arsenal have made Benjamin Sesko their priority target this summer as they look to bolster their frontline but the RB Leipzig's striker has some hefty wage demands

Arsenal are growing frustrated with Benjamin Sesko over his wage demands as they look to wrap up a deal for their top summer target. Adding a No.9 is a priority for Mikel Arteta but negotiations are not going smoothly due to his desired salary.

The Gunners want the Slovenian hitman to be their big summer recruit and and are ready to pay the £70million asking price that RB Leipzig are demanding. Their failure to quality for Europe has somewhat forced the sale with the highly-rated striker tipped for the Premier League.

However Sesko's camp are looking to land a big pay day and want more than Arsenal are preparing to shell out. It means that, as first revealed by The Sun, the north Londoners could back out - with sporting director Andrea Berta having been negotiating multiple deals simultaneously just in case.

If so it would likely take them in the direction for Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede is determined to leave Sporting Lisbon this summer after another stunning year in front of goal, but the 27-year-old knows he isn't Arsenal's first choice.

Arteta and co are also aware that Manchester United remain particularly keen on Gyokeres. Ruben Amorim would welcome his former player to Old Trafford but Arsenal can offer Champions League football, which could aid them in negotiations.

Arsenal have opted against adding a prolific frontman in recent windows, instead prioritising other positions. However it came back to haunt them last term as they dealt with a plethora of injuries whilst Kai Havertz's finishing to let him down at points.

It has put the club under pressure to address the issue, especially after they missed out on the Premier League title for the third straight year. The Gunners could also miss out on other targets with Nico Williams close to sealing a switch from Athletic Bilbao to Barcelona.

Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is also on their hit list but the defender is on Liverpool's radar and has doubts over his game time at the Emirates given the partnership between William Saliba and Gabriel. However the feeling within the squad is that new faces will arrive.

Jurrien Timber told the Matchday podcast, he said: "It will definitely be a busy one for Arsenal. I think we will get a lot of players, because we had so many injuries last season."