Benjamin Sesko was the club’s primary candidate for the role but with talks that took place with RB Leipzig it became clear a reasonable deal could not be agreed. As a result, the club’s sporting director Andrea Berta has pivoted to a profile he certainly elevated the view of since arriving at the club in March,

Arsenal are in the process of completing a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres after taking final steps in negotiations with Sporting CP for the striker. Talks have been prolonged by Sporting president Frederico Varandas refusing to accept what Gyokeres believes was an agreement to leave this summer for €60million plus €10m of add-ons.