Arsenal targets a €50M striker, Lautaro Martinez has decided on his future.
Arsenal has chosen its future No. 9, Lautaro Martinez has made a decision about his destiny, and Hansi Flick’s request to Barça. Find the latest information from the European sports press in your Foot Mercato press review.
Arsenal to open the checkbook
If Arsenal missed out on the crown in England once again, it might be because the Gunners lacked a prolific striker. Well, this Friday morning, the British press reports that Arsenal wants to change that next season. The London club has set its sights on Benjamin Sesko, the RB Leipzig player. The Daily Mirror reports that “Sesko wants to become a great player,” and that could happen at the Emirates Stadium. “He is open to a transfer to Arsenal this summer. The RB Leipzig striker Sesko is being courted by a multitude of clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United, while Italy also shows significant interest.” However, the Gunners will have to shell out £45M, which is more than €52M. Mikel Arteta’s team still seems to have an edge in this matter despite the fierce competition.
Speaking of strikers, Lautaro Martinez could have perfectly matched the profile sought by Arsenal, as well as many other clubs looking for a formidable striker. But the Argentinian is no longer available. For several months, Inter Milan has been trying to extend its striker’s contract, which currently runs until 2026. And this time, they are close to achieving their goal. La Gazzetta dello Sport announces that “Lautaro says yes!” “There will soon be a new meeting between the club and the player to agree on a contract extension.” The newspaper indicates that the club’s latest offer reaches €10M per year, including bonuses. “The ball is now in the striker’s court, who is asking for 12.” In any case, Inter can breathe easy and look to the future confidently because the Argentinian striker still sees himself in the Nerazzurri colors.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Hansi Flick is already hard at work and has some ideas for his Barça. It’s “Flick’s blueprint. The new coach is already planning his Barça, with a 4-2-3-1 formation that can be converted into a 4-3-3. His style of play suggests he will shift from Xavi’s square to an inverted triangle with two pivots and a playmaker.” Quite a program! But the Blaugrana club will also have to manage important matters, including Ronald Araujo, who is a “priority” according to Sport. “He is essential for Hansi Flick’s next project at Barça, and the coach has requested that he not be transferred. The club has decided to reactivate negotiations with the Uruguayan defender to improve his salary.” The message has been received.
In today’s Foot Mercato JT: major upheaval on Ligue 1 club benches, Antoine Griezmann is courted in the transfer market, Mikel Arteta is set to extend with Arsenal, and the day’s official news.
Considered one of the best players in Ligue 1 this season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still in great shape at 34 years old. The Olympique de Marseille striker has come a long way and experienced a very difficult personal episode when he was at Arsenal, just before his departure in January 2022. The Laval native was depressed and discussed this topic and his daily life during an interview with Colinterview.
“I’m sure I was depressed. There are attitudes that are seriously different from your daily life. For example, I started drinking a lot. It was a tough time. It started a bit before I was fired from Arsenal. So yes, it was depression, I think it was personally related to my parents’ health. It affects a man, it was difficult. How to get out of it? Often, it’s said that you have to talk about it, there’s no shame in that,” said the Gabonese.
Olivier Giroud played his last European match with AC Milan yesterday. The native of Chambéry will head to the United States and Los Angeles FC this summer after a rich career in Europe (Grenoble, Tours, Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea, and AC Milan). In a retrospective documentary by Canal+, Arsène Wenger reflected on the choice to recruit the French striker for the Gunners.
“I remember the first time I saw him. It was his first match with the French national team. At the time, he was doing well with Montpellier. When he came on, I saw him play, and I thought: wow, he understands football. Immediately, something caught my attention,” said the former Arsenal coach, who managed Olivier Giroud for six seasons.
A star player for Leeds United this season, winger Crysencio Summerville has been outstanding in the Championship. A record-breaking season makes him one of the main attractions of the summer transfer market in the Premier League.
Relegated to the Championship last year after a challenging season, Leeds United retained some key players. With Illan Meslier in goal, Junior Firpo, Pascal Struijk, Daniel James, Georginio Rutter, and Italian prodigy Wilfried Gnonto, the Peacocks maintained some continuity with the aim of returning directly to the Premier League. Another player who showed great promise last year has taken his game to another level. His name? Crysencio Summerville. A 22-year-old Dutch left-winger, right-footed, fast, technical, and lethal, he joined Leeds United in 2020 from Feyenoord’s youth academy and has just delivered an outstanding season.
With 21 goals and 10 assists in 48 matches this season, the Dutch U21 international has been the key player for Leeds United. In the playoff semi-final against Norwich City (4-0), he capped off the collective effort. This Sunday against Southampton, Crysencio Summerville and his teammates will attempt to return to the Premier League in a final at Wembley. This wasn’t necessarily on the agenda last summer, as he had to be convinced to stay in the second division amid numerous offers. A mission successfully accomplished by Daniel Farke, who made him his X-factor.
“Crysencio is like a baseball player. When you see a guy touch the ball the way he does, it warms your heart. We want him to improve his efficiency. Goals, assists, that’s the next step in his career. He is on the right track. His attitude, not just in possession of the ball, because he is an exceptional creative player, we know that, but also how hard he has worked for the team. That’s exactly what we need and many compliments to him,” Farke explained last October. Gaining in efficiency and influence, Crysencio Summerville has fully validated the mission given to him. Now, he will try to get Leeds United back to the Premier League, before perhaps moving on to greater things.
According to HITC, many clubs are in the running for the Dutch starlet. Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and FC Porto are interested, as are several Premier League giants. Indeed, the player has been scouted by Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham, and West Ham in recent months. A fine list of suitors that is pushing Leeds United to raise the stakes. According to the Daily Mail, it would take at least €35 million (£30M) to secure the services of the player. After impressing everyone in the Championship this season, Crysencio Summerville is likely to be a major player in the Premier League transfer market this summer.
