Athletic: How Chelsea plan to afford “major acquisition” they’ve worked on “for months” | OneFootball

This summer looks like it’s going to be a serious game of musical chairs when it comes to strikers.

There are several teams at the top of the Premier League who want one, and a few prime options on the market. But there aren’t enough to go around. So who ends up where, and who is left empty handed?

We all know the names by now – Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Benjamin Sesko, Alexander Isak and Liam Delap are those we hear connected most often. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United the teams mentioned most often.

The Athletic have today done a piece on the growing Arsenal interest on Gyokeres specifically, and how that affects the other teams and other players in the equation.

Sesko’s Chelsea links and long term interest in striker

Benjamin Sesko in action for RB Leipzig. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Chelsea correspondent Simon Johnson is tasked with talking about the Chelsea interest in Benjamin Sesko and how that might be made easier should Arsenal commit to Swedish goal machine Gyokeres.

“Chelsea first became interested in Sesko three years ago and have been following his progress closely ever since,” Johnson wrote.

“While he was on their radar in 2022, Chelsea decided he was still a bit too raw and he already had an agreement in place to join RB Leipzig from sister club Red Bull Salzburg anyway.”

After freezing in the headlights last summer and ending up empty handed, the club know they need action this summer:

“Recruiting a centre forward is regarded as a key part of their transfer plans for the summer and the club have been working on a wishlist of possible names for months.”

How do they afford him? Well, “they plan to sell several players,” which will provide the “funds to make a major acquisition.”