You forgot Trossard mate 
1 Like
I think we’ll get Sesko in the end but it will be a tough negotiation that keeps dragging on through much of July and we’ll ultimately have to pay more than we would have liked. We’re only now getting to the part of the window where there is actual pressure on the two clubs to move off whatever negotiating stances they have held.
RBL are no mugs and good sellers - Gvardiol for €90m, Szoboszlai for €70m, Dani Olmo for €55m. They aren’t a club that allows themselves to get forced into cut price deals for their best assets. And the prices being paid by PL clubs for attackers on the market right now are high. United just paid the equivalent of €72m for Cunha and seemingly will pay more for Mbeumo. Chelsea just bought Gittens for €65m. Joao Pedro’s fee is now being reported as close to €70m including add ons. Its not realistic for us to think that we’re going to get Sesko for less than €70m and it may be closer to €80m. But somewhere in that €70-80m range is probably what Sporting is demanding for Gyokeres anyway.
Still have a feeling we’ll get both and let Jesus go. Since we’ve not prioritised one or the other yet.
70m and upwards for sesko would be a pisstake
Good. Get fucked. £70m on some guy scored 9 goals in the bundesliga. No chance. Piss off Leipzig.
2 Likes
If we’re talking euros, its not going to be less for either him or Gyokeres.
The market is just the market. Players like Gittens and Joao Pedro with half the talent and hype as Sesko just sold for €65-70m euro. Frankfurt is asking €100m euro for Ekitike.
Just seen the news that Joao fucking Pedro moved to Chelsea for 60 fucking million pounds. If we can get Sesko for anything less than £70m in the current market, it seems like a decent deal.
Another player that has nobody but himself to blame if he gets screwed out of a move. Had a release clause last June, had his choice of top clubs to choose from and he decided to sign a new deal there and stay.
He’s had an underwhelming season and now Leipzig are asking ridiculous money to let him go.
6 Likes
Reading Mokbel’s update it certainly sounds like unless there is a breakthrough this deal is pretty much dead.
Not only the clubs are far off in negotiations but the same stands for personal terms.
It sounds like whatever rapport was established with Sesko’s agent is no longer there after Edu and Ayto exited.
Sabotage by Berta eh
LFG
1 Like
WE WON 
Hard to blame Leipzig considering the fees going about lately and the dearth of striking talent. Personal terms for Sesko seems pretty dumb though, doubt he’s getting what we can offer.
@The_Invincibles your thoughts? You have lost!!!
I’m far from celebrating…
We could still end up with Watkins
:partey:
1 Like
In which case, I win.
Come to think of it, there was that weird interview from Sesko’s agent a couple weeks ago about Sesko not competing with anyone but himself because he is a special striker, that they respect Leipzig and won’t look to push them for a move.
It all checks out now seeing how Gyokeres is doing exactly that and forcing his way out of Sporting. Maybe that was a shot at Berta if he’s the one that urged both to put pressure on their clubs.
You also have to wonder if our parallel pursuit of Gyokeres rubbed Sesko’s camp the wrong way. If I recall correctly, one of the reasons cited that Sesko decided against the move last summer was that he would have to compete with Havertz.
Honestly, if he’s that phased by competition then perhaps he was never the right fit anyway.
3 Likes
Neither RBL nor his agent seem easy to deal with but I’ll be annoyed with Berta if we don’t get the manager’s obvious first choice in such an important position, especially without much competition from other clubs.
You have to pay a premium for top talent but you need that top talent to win the big trophies. City tried to negotiate the Gvardiol price down with Leipzig for half the window then finally just paid the 90m because he was the most talented young defender on the market. We shouldn’t ultimately let 5-10m euros in the price keep us from landing the most talented young striker on the market. We did the right thing caving in to West Ham’s demands for Rice and to Brighton’s demands for Ben White. Not every deal has to be a bargain and not every negotiation has to be a victory.
3 Likes
Are we sure this is the case? Sure, we’ve heard that Sesko has apparently more backing than Gyokeres but I think there is difference between “I certainly want A over B” and “I want A but I don’t mind B”.
And honestly, I don’t think I’ve heard a reliable reporter say that Arteta is that keen on Sesko.
I think if anything, the one that has been reiterated a lot is that if Arteta had his way, he’d get Isak.
I cannot see the club pursuit this Gyokeres deal without Arteta being open to it too.
Poor mikel 
We went for him last summer too though.
Sami Mokbel has repeatedly said that Sesko is the first choice and has more universal support within the club. I don’t think he’d be the first choice if he wasn’t Arteta’s first choice.
Arteta may be perfectly fine with Gyokeres but I have my doubts. I wouldn’t be shocked if he preferred Watkins (if Sesko can’t be had) to be honest.