Arsenal make Victor Osimhen decision as transfer priority change made after latest £55.6m blow

Arsenal will not make a rash decision in the transfer market following the renewal of Benjamin Sesko’s contract, football.london understands. The Gunners saw one of the targets they saw as a potential striker candidate sign a new deal last week and since have faced questions about where their crosshairs may turn next in the market.

football.london reported just under two weeks ago that despite the noise surrounding the Slovenian forward that a central midfielder was indeed the priority signing for the club this summer and that any move for Sesko at that time remains some way off. Days later the RB Leipzig man signed a new deal removing the £55.6million release clause as the tall forward opted to resolve his future early in the window, as expected, and stay in Germany for another season.

Since then, Arsenal have been linked with a number of centre-forwards including Napoli striker Victor Osimhen among others. However, football.london understands a move for the Nigerian is unlikely at this stage and have not heard anything to support claims of an imminent offer being made.

Arsenal certainly need reinforcement in the forward line despite their priority being in the middle third for the moment and with the potential for both Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson to leave, this would only further that necessity. The striker market is not forthcoming with standout options with a preference instead potentially swaying to a wide player to offer Bukayo Saka some much-needed rest and competitive rotation.

It is not known who the standout candidate would be for the Gunners in these areas as work is currently focused on midfield. Last summer Declan Rice was the priority target from the start of the window and the club were both willing and able to commit to a £100million plus move for the then West Ham stalwart.

Any such move this summer is not on the cards although a significant number of sales could change that later in the window. Edu has plenty of surplus players in addition to Nketiah and Nelson who could leave and bring in a healthy return which could come close to that seen in the summer of 2017.

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The club are confident that the squad will be much-improved come the end of the window, football.london understands. The aim is to provide Mikel Arteta with even more quality in order to better take on Manchester City in the title race.

Getting business done early has taken on even greater imperative after it was revealed that the Gunners will face City just five games into the new season. Included in a tricky opening run of games for Arsenal, having the players settled, integrated and building momentum ahead of an early title-impacting game is key.