Ray Parlour says Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko has big weakness he must improve
Ray Parlour has been impressed by Arsenal transfer target Benjamin Sesko, but believes the youngster must improve in the air if he is to become the complete centre-forward.
Arsenal are on the hunt for an out-and-out No.9 this summer after going a fifth successive season without winning a major trophy under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners' inactivity in January drew widespread criticism from supporters and pundits alike and injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz only intensified calls for the club to find a solution in the transfer market.
It's understood RB Leipzig's Sesko, 22, has long been on Arsenal's radar, though the Slovenian's wage demands are said to have left the north Londoners' increasingly 'frustrated' in recent days.
Arsenal have also encountered difficulties in pursuit of their other top target, Viktor Gyokeres, with the 27-year-old Sporting attacker threatening to go on strike to force through a switch to the Emirates.
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
'It's not rocket science is it? It's glaring at you,' ex-Arsenal midfielder Parlour told talkSPORT of the club's need for a top striker this summer.
'Sesko has got everything going for him. He's a young lad, he can improve, he's strong, he's quick.
'He's not great in the air, he can do better in the air probably, if I'm being honest. But he's on their radar.'
Parlour is confident one of Sesko or Gyokeres will be starting up front for Arsenal at the start of next season.
'Gyokeres has obviously been linked to Manchester United, but it sounds like he wants to go to Arsenal,' the three-time Premier League winner added.
'I think it is going to be out of one of those strikers I should imagine.'
Parlour is positive about Martin Zubimendi's impending arrival from Real Sociedad and expects Arsenal to explore the market for a winger to strengthen their options out wide.
'Zubimendi looks like he's going to be signed as well which gives Declan Rice a little bit more license to get forward,' he continued.
'[Thomas] Partey is staying so he's another member in that squad who can play central midfield.
'But striker-wise, it's got to be one of those two and then hopefully they settle in straight away and they learn to play around the likes of [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli on the left, whoever it's going to be.
'I think they will go for another winger as well.
'I think that's quite important because when Saka was out last season, they did struggle a little bit and [Martin] Odegaard's game went a little bit.'
According to Parlour, the Gunners have a 'great chance' of ending their long wait for a Premier League title next season – as long as they are 'a little luckier' with keeping key players fit. More Trending
'Liverpool deserved to win the league, there's no doubt about that, but they didn't get have a lot of injuries to key players,' he went on.
'I'm talking about Van Dijk, he's massive for Liverpool. Salah is massive for Liverpool and he didn't get injured too often, he played every week.
'So other teams got more injuries than Liverpool, but that's nothing against Liverpool because they deserved to win it. They were the best team in the league and the most consistent.
'But I think Arsenal have got to learn from last season and if they can get a little luckier with injuries, they've got a great chance again.' Who should Arsenal prioritise?
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Liverpool make approach to sign Viktor Gyokeres ahead of Arsenal
MORE: Frank Leboeuf compares £51m transfer target to four Chelsea flops
MORE: Chelsea sent final transfer message by AC Milan over Mike Maignan transfer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea battling Premier League rivals for Joao Pedro after bid rejected
Joao Pedro has thrived for Brighton in the Premier League since joining from Watford but the Seagulls face a tall order to keep hold of the Brazilian international Chelsea are battling it out with Newcastle to sign Brighton striker Joao Pedro. Newcastle have already had a £50m-plus bid turned down by Brighton who will not allow the Brazil international to go on the cheap. Chelsea are also keen and have held discussions over signing the 23-year-old who would add options and versatility to their forward line. That would raise serious question marks over the futures of Christopher Nkunku who has been heavily linked with Manchester United and also Nicolas Jackson. Jackson was sent off in the Club World Cup which means he has been serving a ban in two separate competitions after missing the end of the Premier League season after getting a red card. Brighton have rejected bids from two separate Premier League clubs with Liverpool and Arsenal also having been linked with the versatile forward who can play through the middle and wide. Chelsea have held discussions but are now pushing to get a deal done and it remains to be seen whether they can agree a deal. Chelsea have been very active in this window as they are still looking to get a deal done for Borussia Dortmund 's Jamie Gittens. Brighton signed Pedro from Watford in a deal worth around £30m in the summer of 2023 and will want to get a big profit. Pedro, who has scored 30 goals in 70 Albion appearances, is a long-term target of Newcastle as who were also keen in 2022. But now Newcastle face a fight on their hands with Chelsea and other Premier League clubs keen on the Brazilian. Pedro was banished from Fabian Hurzeler's squad for the final two Premier League matches of the season following an alleged training ground spat with Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Now his future could be elsewhere if anyone can meet Brighton's price. Earlier this month, Brighton boss Hurzeler suggested he expects to have Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma back for pre-season training. Mitoma was the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League last season but ended up staying put. "For sure. I'm really looking forward for both of them," the boss tols Sky Sports. "They're great players and they helped us a lot last season. They're expected to be back next week." Brighton have already spent big this summer, with Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas joining from Olympiacos for around £30m. Tommy Watson and Diego Coppola have also completed moves, from Sunderland and Verona respectively. "I think they all have great potential. We keep doing our way, signing young players with big potential and trying to develop them," Hurzeler added. "That's what we'll try to do with these new signings and I'm sure they will make us better." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Paul Pogba seals return to football after doping ban as ex-Man Utd star joins Ligue 1 side Monaco
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PAUL POGBA is finally back in football. And having ended his 18-month doping ban at the age of 32, the ex-Manchester United midfielder has joined a club in home country France for the first time ever. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Paul Pogba will finally play domestic football in France Credit: MANACO 5 Pogba failed a test in August 2023 and hasn't played since the following month Credit: Getty Monaco have signed the 2018 World Cup winner on a two-year contract. The former Juventus hero last played in September 2023 but insists he "still feels like a kid". Pogba was suspended following a random drug test after the Italian giants played Udinese on the first day of the 2023-24 season. He was banned for four years but that was slashed by 30 months on appeal last October. READ MORE ON MAN UTD WISH ROO WERE HERE? Wayne Rooney pictured looking glum on holiday with Coleen & Utd legends The four-time Serie A winner pledged to ultimately resume playing. However, Pogba's contract with Juve was terminated by mutual consent last November. Two months after that, he appeared to hint at a THIRD spell with the Red Devils. Pogba teased United fans with an Instagram post. 5 The midfielder reckons he's mentally and physically ready Credit: MANACO BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He shared a cartoon drawing of himself next to Old Trafford ace Amad Diallo - with BOTH players in Red Devils' kit. Pogba sent speculation spiralling by adding the words: "Let's see what's coming..." Man Utd open to Rasmus Hojlund offers LATEST with Italian giants keen | Transfers Exposed 5 He's been free to find a new team since March this year. And it's understood he hoped to attract interest from the Bundesliga as well as Juve's major rivals in Serie A. Instead, however, Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco have swooped. The Old Trafford academy product left United for his first stint with Juve in 2012. Four glittering years later, Pogba returned to the Red Devils for a then-British record fee of £89million. But his Premier League form was more erratic than electric. Pogba did help Jose Mourinho's Red Devils win both the Europa League and League Cup in 2016-17. But he reunited with Juve via a four-year deal and free transfer in July 2022, only to fail a drug test 13 months later He was found to have taken banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone, which boosts testosterone and can improve endurance. But Pogba's suspension was cut last autumn when the Court of Arbitration for Sport accepted his case it "was not intentional". Now the 91-cap star is revving up for a top-level return. Just days ago, as he neared his move to Monaco, Pogba said: "I'm mentally and physically ready, and I'm eager to start again. "I'm 32, but I still feel like a kid." Pogba also criticised Juve for rejecting his pleas for help. He told French TV channel TF1: "I asked to get a fitness coach. I had the right, and I was always part of the team. "They were not very kind to me, they did not support me, and I was shocked. I did not understand why." "I thought I was at war with anti-doping authorities."
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Branthwaite contract talks moving forward
Everton are progressing in talks over a new contract with defender Jarrad 23-year-old is regarded as an important part of the club's plans as they move into a new era at Hill Dickinson summer, Manchester United had two bids rejected for the centre-half, the second of which was about £ sources had said it would need a 'mega' offer to even consider selling the player, who had been valued at £ made 30 Premier League appearances to help the Toffees to finish 13th in the table and his current deal expires in 2027.
