Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Arsenal chief has already signed the 'next Antoine Griezmann' as Benjamin Sesko delay explained

by · football.london

After hastily forking out £113m to sign Joao Felix from Benfica in July 2019, Andrea Berta appears to have learned his lesson, taking on a far more conservative approach in his mission to sign Arsenal a new striker.

Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres both continue to be heavily linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his frontline. While the Gunners have been twiddling their thumbs, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all managed to wrap up key signings this month.

football.london understands that Arsenal are interested in Sesko, even if his stock has fallen a little after a slightly underwhelming season for RB Leipzig. The Gunners wanted to secure the 22-year-old's signature last year, but the talks never reached an advanced stage.

He was keen to resolve his future at Leipzig before Euro 2024, but the north Londoners couldn't commit to a deal with Eddie Nketiah still at the club. By the time the Hale End graduate eventually left, Sesko had already penned a contract extension at the Red Bull Arena.

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Despite missing out, football.london understands that Arsenal continued to monitor his progress. The Gunners are also keen on Gyokeres, who could cost just as much as Sesko this summer.

football.london understands Arsenal are long admirers of the Sporting CP striker, with interest dating back to his spell at Coventry City in the Championship. Berta is thought to be a 'big fan', but – as things stand – Arsenal are yet to submit an official offer.

The new sporting director may seem indecisive, but he simply wants to close the best deal possible. After paying well over the odds for Felix six years ago, Berta will be determined to prove that he's learned his lesson.

Andrea Berta must finalise Arsenal's primary targets sooner rather than later(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Atletico rushed to sign the Benfica youngster, making him the fifth most expensive player in the world at the time, and only the second most expensive teenager behind Kylian Mbappe, who cost Paris Saint-Germain £165m a year prior.

Berta also smashed the Spanish giants' then-club record of £62m, which they had forked out to sign Thomas Lemar in 2018. An official statement from the Portuguese outfit revealed that the now-Arsenal chief agreed to pay €30m (£26m) upfront with the rest in instalments after bidding €6m (£5m) more than the release clause (£107.6m/€120m).

Despite the eye-watering fee, it seemed to be a real coup for Atletico at the time. In the years preceding Felix's arrival at the Metropolitano, Diego Simeone's side regularly finished La Liga in second or third place and often reached the latter stages of the Champions League.

Arsenal managing director Richard Garlick and new sporting director Andrea Berta(Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Atletico were one big signing away overthrowing Real Madrid and Barcelona. So, when Felix burst onto the scene at Benfica, Berta rushed to secure his signature and hastily handed him Antonine Griezmann's number seven shirt.

Not only did the teenage sensation fail to warrant his incredible price tag, but the payment structure of his deal set the club back five years. According to Transfermarkt, Atletico didn't spend more than €35m (£29.8m) on a player until Felix left to join Chelsea permanently in August 2024.

It was only once Simeone's side had offloaded the Portuguese ace that normality resumed at the Metropolitano. Ironically, Atletico terminated Berta's contract a few months later.

Joao Felix is likely to leave Chelsea this summer(Image: Sebastian Widmann - UEFA)

While supporters may be desperate to see Sesko or Gyokeres pen a deal at the Emirates Stadium this month, the Arsenal sporting director knows – more than anyone else – how important it is to not pay over the odds. Berta has learned his lesson...

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