Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko could have been lining up on opposite sides at the Emirates on Sunday, but a series of sliding doors moments reshaped both players' destinies. Sesko was on the verge of joining Arsenal before a change in the club's sporting leadership saw the pursuit abandoned, while Gyokeres eventually moved to Manchester United after a turbulent summer.
Arsenal had long targeted Sesko, with strong dialogue established in the summer of 2024 and a deal worth over £45m on the cards. However, the Slovenian striker hesitated, wary of sharing duties with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, and chose to remain at RB Leipzig. Arsenal maintained contact throughout the 2024/25 season, but the appointment of Andrea Berta as sporting director in March 2025 shifted their focus to Gyokeres, a more experienced option.
Berta championed Gyokeres, reasoning that the 27-year-old Sweden international was 'oven ready' to deliver goals immediately, unlike the younger, raw Sesko. Arsenal paid £64m to activate Gyokeres's release clause at Sporting Lisbon, where he had scored 97 goals in 102 games. Meanwhile, Sporting pushed Gyokeres towards Manchester United, but the striker was not interested in reuniting with former manager Ruben Amorim.
Sesko, having rejected Newcastle, set his sights on Old Trafford. Amorim was not entirely convinced and wanted a more experienced striker, but United ultimately paid £74m for the 22-year-old. The fan base remains divided, though scouts believe his athleticism and pace will see him develop into a prolific centre forward in time.
Sesko has taken time to adapt and was only on the bench for Michael Carrick's first game in charge, but there is confidence he will come good. Gyokeres has struggled since his move to Arsenal, and the contrasting fortunes of the two strikers highlight how a single transfer decision can alter a player's trajectory.
