‘They’re trying like mad’ – David Seaman gives inside info on Arsenal’s striker pursuit

Today at 01:43 PM

Arsenal legend David Seaman revealed the club is ‘trying like mad’ to sign a new striker in January.

A long-term injury to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s profligacy in front of goal exposed the Gunners’ depth up top and sharpened their need to bring in a replacement.

Complicating matters though is the fact the January window is notoriously difficult to pull off major signings as clubs are reluctant to lose their prize talents midway through the season.

There’s a sentiment among sections of Arsenal’s fanbase that the search of a striker now could have been alleviated had they done their business in the summer window.

However, it didn’t come to fruition as they opted to build depth with the signings of Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino and Italy international Riccardo Calafiori.

But Seaman has tried to allay Gunners supporters’ fears the club is not being active enough in January on talkSPORT’s H&J.

“We thought they were doing that with Merino and Calafiori,” Seaman said.

“We thought that was going to be enough. Everybody was saying, ‘We still need a striker.’

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens with that, whether they do get someone. I know for a fact they are trying like mad to get one.

“But whether it’s the one they want now or whether it’ll be the one they want in the summer.”

Seaman’s claim is backed up by the Gunners making a tentative enquiry for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko on Tuesday.

Arsenal held an interest in Sesko last year but a deal may prove difficult as Leipzig appear reluctant to sell despite having been knockout out of the Champions League.

Further muddying the waters is the fact Sesko’s agent stated a loan move for the Slovenian in January is off the table.

The 21-year-old is valued at £70million and joined Leipzig from RB Salzburg in 2023.

He’s scored a total of 31 goals from 67 games across all competitions for Leipzig since his arrival, with eight of those goals coming in this Bundesliga season.

Victor Osimhen, on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has been another name linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Regardless of who the Gunners make a play for, if at all, Arsenal hero Perry Groves believes the club must bring in a marquee striker, even if they have to ‘pay over the odds.’

Arsenal have previously shown they are prepared to splash the cash in January to get their man.

In the 2018 winter window, the Gunners shelled out £53.8m to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund.

It proved to be a wise investment as Aubameyang scored 70 goals in 109 appearances across all competitions in his first three seasons before his form tailed off and eventually departed to Barcelona in January 2021.

Outside of the big-money Aubameyang signing, Arsenal have never spent over £29m in January, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan their second-most expensive winter addition.

Should Arsenal land a striker in January, boss Mikel Arteta will hope it helps the team close the gap on league leaders Liverpool.

Arteta’s side sit in second place and six points behind the Reds, although they have a game in hand over the Gunners.

Arsenal is next in action on Saturday as they travel to Molineux for a clash against Wolves.