Arsenal ‘make fresh contact' for Arteta’s DREAM Havertz replacement – Fabrizio Romano

Robin Bairner

• 13 Feb 2025 05:30 CST
• 4 min read

Fabrizio Romano has provided the latest transfer updates from Arsenal, with the Emirates club in shock following a season-ending injury to Kai Havertz.

Arsenal working on striker deal

Romano has revealed that Arsenal have already made contact with one of Arteta’s “dream” strikers in the wake of Havertz’s hamstring injury.

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Current ETV

Benjamin Šeško

F (C)

RB Leipzig

Benjamin Šeško

F (C)

RB Leipzig

€56.6M

ETV Range

€50.9M - €62.2M

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The Gunners have held constant dialogue with RB Leipzig hitman Benjamin Sesko after they were knocked back in a bid for him during January.

“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 told 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.”

READ MORE: Arsenal’s SHOCK free agent stance revealed by Romano after another devastating injury

Why no deal was made in January

Romano went on to explain why Arsenal did not complete a move during the January transfer window.

“Arsenal wanted to bring in a new striker. Mikel Arteta said they were trying,” he said.

“They didn’t want to overpay for players who were not part of their plans for the summer. At some point in January, Arsenal understood they had to do something. They called RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko but were told no chance for January. There was no official bid made.

“There was a chance to sign Ollie Watkins. They had a bid rejected. But there was bad luck as the same week Aston Villa sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr. They made big money on that deal - €85 million. Unai Emery was very clear publicly and to the board: Ollie Watkins had to stay.

“They had the chance to sign Alvaro Morata as an opportunity. They said no. Randal Kolo-Muani, who is doing fantastic for Juventus, was offered to them. Why didn’t Arsenal attack the deal? They had the feeling they couldn’t offer him the starting spot. Similar to Mathys Tel, they couldn’t go to the player and tell the player he could play 90% of the games. Juventus have offered him that chance.

“So they decided not to sign anyone and now the situation is complicated.”

Real Madrid see Saliba as ‘Bellingham of defenders’

Romano also addressed Real Madrid’s interest in William Saliba, which has seen some sources suggest that Los Blancos could launch a world-record bid for the France centre-back.

“There is no doubt that people at Real Madrid see William Saliba as a superstar, a fantastic defender. They obviously see him as one of the best defenders in the world. Someone at Real Madrid sees Saliba as the Bellingham of defenders,” Romano said. “He is a top player for present and for the future.

“But in this story, there was a lack of respect for Arsenal. Arteta still sees Saliba as crucial for this project and his contract is still long. Arsenal are insisting on their plan to continue with Saliba and keep him as a player for their project.

“But nothing has started in terms of club-to-club contact. Arsenal will not make life easy for any club to sign Saliba. It would take a very big amount of money, and I’m not even convinced that story would be that easy.”