Arsenal Transfer News Roundup: Gunners eyeing RB Leipzig ace, club want Jorginho to stay, and more - September 9, 2024
Arsenal are preparing for the highly anticipated North London Derby against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, September 15, in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta will be eager to pick up a win after dropping points against Brighton & Hove Albion (1-1) in their previous game on August 31.
Meanwhile, the Gunners are interested in an RB Leipzig striker. Elsewhere, Jorginho will not be allowed to leave the Emirates this year.
On that note, let's look at the major Arsenal transfer news from September 9, 2024.
Arsenal eyeing Benjamin Sesko
Arsenal are planning a move for Benjamin Sesko in 2025, as per Caught Offside. Mikel Arteta was eager to rope in an established No. 9 this year and had his eyes on the Slovenian.
The Spanish manager has targeted talented young footballers in recent times and Sesko fits the bill. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a steady rise with RB Leipzig and was also expected to be on the move this summer.
However, Sesko opted to stay at the Red Bull Arena and even signed a new contract with the club. The Gunners ended the transfer window without signing a striker, despite being linked with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres.
However, it now appears that the north London side plan to return for the Slovenian next summer. Arsenal have even established contact with Sesko's camp to win the race, with the player also wanted at Chelsea and Manchester United. However, if the Gunners fail to land the 21-year-old, they will move on to Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram, who is also appreciated at the Emirates.
Gunners want Jorginho to stay
Arsenal have no plans to offload Jorginho in the coming days, as per talkSPORT. The veteran midfielder signed a new contract in May this year that will keep him at the Emirates until next summer.
However, Jorginho has struggled for game time this season, as he has yet to kick a ball so far. With Mikel Merino joining Mikel Arteta's roster in the final days of the transfer window, the Italian's future is unlikely to change any time soon.
Recent reports have suggested that Galatasaray have their eyes on the 32-year-old. The Turkish giants initially wanted to sign Casemiro but couldn't agree to a deal.
They have identified Jorginho as an alternative and are pushing to secure a move before the transfer window closes in the country later this week. However, the Gunners have no desire to let the Italian leave, as he remains a key part of Arteta's squad.
Fabrizio Romano gives update on Fabio Vieira situation
Fabio Vieira's future at the Emirates is far from over, according to acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano. The Portuguese midfielder opted to join FC Porto on loan this summer after struggling to break into Mikel Arteta's plans.
Vieira registered just 17 appearances for two goals and three assists across competitions for Arsenal last season, most of which were from the bench. He returned to the Portuguese club last month on a temporary move but is believed to join them permanently.
However, speaking on the Here We Go podcast, Romano insisted that the north London side still believe in Vieira.
"Yeah, there are many questions on this one because we had many rumours on Fabio Vieira. After he joined Porto on loan from Arsenal, many people starting saying 'okay, it's over for Fabio Vieira at Arsenal'. What I'm told is that this is not the case," Romano said.
He continued:
"Arsenal only wanted to do a straight loan with no buy option included, because they want to assess the situation of Fabio Vieira again in one year. They told internally that Fabio really needed to play on a constant basis every single weekend, to feel the confidence and feel as an important player for the new club and coach."
He concluded:
"He was an important player at Arsenal, but it was very difficult to play with the top players they have at the club, and so they believe that the loan to Porto is the perfect solution to see the level of Fabio Vieira now after being in the Premier League for a few years."
Vieira has appeared 49 times for the Gunners to date, registering three goals and nine assists.