Napoli have decided to target Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres despite Arsenal having held interest in securing his services.
The Gunners finished second in the Premier League for a third consecutive season and missed out on silverware for a fifth consecutive campaign.
Boss Mikel Arteta will be under pressure to bring trophies back to the Emirates, but he will have to be backed in the market with funds if he is to do so.
The Londoners have strongly been linked with a move for Sporting striker Gyokeres, but they have more recently been linked with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal's indecision could prove costly if they choose to pursue Gyokeres given The Mirror report that Serie A winners Napoli have joined the race to sign the Swedish striker, with manager Antonio Conte keen to strengthen ahead of his side's Champions League campaign.
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Would signing Sesko be a mistake?
There is no doubting that Sesko could develop into an exceptional striker given he possesses many of the qualities that separate great forwards from good forwards.
The 22-year-old is a powerful shooter, and he has managed to score from distance on multiple occasions in the past seasons, something that could prove valuable against low blocks.
Sesko can also be physically imposing, with his 6ft 5 inch frame helping him battle opposition centre-backs and beat opponents in the penalty area.
However, his overall play can at times be frustrating, while he has only once scored more than 15 league goals in a season.
Gyokeres can at times also be guilty of loose touches, but the 26-year-old has scored 68 goals in 66 games in the top flight for Sporting Lisbon, and he already has experience of English football having played for Coventry City and Swansea City in the Championship.
Given that Arteta will be under pressure to deliver silverware next term, it may be wiser for the Arsenal boss to bring Gyokeres to the Emirates in order to help his team get over the line.
Lewis Nolan
