We have all the latest Arsenal news today (Friday February 14) with updates on Nico Williams, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Fabrizio Romano.
Nico Williams says he WILL sign for Arsenal
Nico Williams has told Barcelona star Lamine Yamal that he will sign for Arsenal this summer, according to a report from Spain.
Athletic Club star Nico has long been linked with a switch to the Gunners, whose interest has stepped up in recent months as they seek additional offensive options.
We revealed in December that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was prepared to launch a January bid to match the winger’s €58 million release clause – but only if he showed a willingness to make the move.
READ MORE: Arsenal target Sesko AND Isak in blockbusting summer transfer blitz
Having knocked back the Emirates side and Barcelona in the summer, Williams decided to see the season out with Athletic, but the expectation has always been that he will depart Bilbao following the 2024/25 season.
Now that has been confirmed by reports from Spain, with the 22-year-old having told close friend Lamine Yamal his transfer plan for the summer. It is one that is set to leave his mate disappointed, with Arsenal picked as his destination ahead of Barcelona.
Gyokeres warning for Arteta and Gunners
Viktor Gyokeres might be one of the most coveted players in the Premier League, but it is claimed that the Sweden international striker has become “a problem on and off the field” for Sporting CP.
The Gunners see him as an alternative to their dream duo of Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) and Alexander Isak (Newcastle), while Chelsea were tentatively interested in him last summer. Man Utd’s interest is increasing, with Ruben Amorim the driving force at Old Trafford after working with the 26-year-old at Sporting.
READ MORE: Why Paul Scholes got it so wrong about Arsenal and Alexander Isak
But the Premier League giants have been sent a warning over a player who was once valued at €100 million in Portugal.
The striker failed to train on the eve of the Dortmund clash, which has led to questions as to why Sporting are being so secretive over what’s really going on.
“His explosive power has disappeared,” pundit Jose Calado noted on CMTV.
With Sporting being so discreet about what’s going on about Gyokeres, it is unclear if this is the type of long-term problem that could put off suitors.
It is notable that the Lisbon club have also dropped Gyokeres’ asking price from €100m to €70m ahead of the summer transfer window, though this is down to an agreement with the striker that they will allow him to leave should they receive a suitable bid.
The player is increasingly becoming a handicap to Sporting, according to JN.
Gyokeres has been nursing a mystery injury for some time, which the Lisbon outfit are at pains to deny is a knee problem.
“We can’t blame the injury”, head coach Rui Borges said after Gyokeres came up short during a 3-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday – a match that marked his third in succession without scoring, an unprecedented run for the striker.
“It’s not to do with a physical problem. It’s to do with shortness of breath, with the lungs.”
Gunners in contact with “dream” Havertz replacement
Arsenal are in contact with Mikel Arteta’s “dream” striker as they move on to life after the grim news that Kai Havertz will miss the rest of the season.
The German will not play again in 2024-25 after tearing a hamstring during the Gunners’ winter training camp in Dubai. That compounds the club’s injury issues up front with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka also currently out.
Now all attention is very much on what happens this summer given that the club trail Liverpool by seven points at the top of the Premier League table.
READ MORE: Gunners get The Athletic thumbs down for ‘costly’ transfer mistakes
“Arsenal are working on signing one top striker during the summer transfer window and they’ll probably add a winger to the attacking department,” Romano said in a video update on his YouTube channel.
“In terms of strikers, Arteta’s two obsessions remain. One is Alexander Isak, but we have to respect Newcastle, who have no intention of selling him, and Sesko. In this case, it’s completely different. The doors can be open but Chelsea are keeping a close eye on him.
“Arsenal have already made fresh contacts, confirming their interest in Sesko. They’re keeping the contact active. These two are the dream targets. Arteta wanted a winger last season but it wasn’t possible. But they’ll try again this summer.”
Sesko shock as striker fee could reach €100 million
Arsenal have been told that they might have to splash out as much as €100 million to secure Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in the summer.
Mikel Arteta’s side are currently counting the cost of inaction in the transfer market both last summer and during January as they face the prospect of playing the remainder of the campaign without a senior centre-forward available.
Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for the campaign with an ACL injury while there are fears Kai Havertz could face a prolonged period on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury while at a training camp in Dubai.
With wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka also laid up, Arsenal are desperately short of attacking options. Sesko was their priority target during the winter transfer window, but they were put off by the transfer fee that RB Leipzig demanded.
READ MORE: The Tierney era is over at the Emirates as transfer CONFIRMED
The No.9 does not have a release clause in his contract for the summer but does have a gentleman’s agreement that he will be able to leave should a certain sum be offered to Leipzig, yet the Bundesliga club are hoping the interest in the player is sufficient to drive the bidding up to €100m, Sport Bild reports.
Arsenal are the keenest club to land Sesko but interest also comes from Bayern, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea.
The 21-year-old Slovenia international star has a contract with Leipzig until 2029 while his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €56.6m – around half of what the German outfit hope they can sell him for.
Fabrizio Romano reveals shock free agent stance
Kai Havertz’s hamstring injury has sent shockwaves through Arsenal and Fabrizio Romano has revealed how the club intends to act on the transfer market as a response to the blow.
Arsenal fear that Havertz’s season could be over due to a hamstring problem picked up on a training camp in Dubai, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side bereft of attacking options.