Arsenal explored a move for Benjamin Sesko in the January transfer window, and the striker looks like the club’s most likely centre-forward addition this summer.
Sami Mokbel reports for the Daily Mail that Arsenal explored a move for Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig in the January transfer window. If there was a chance to sign the player in the winter, the Gunners were prepared to take it.
But Leipzig informed Arsenal that they weren’t willing to sell in January, and it seems the London club didn’t want to damage their chances of a summer transfer by forcing the issue.
Mokbel adds that Sesko appears to be Arsenal’s best chance of signing a centre-forward in the summer window, when a new release clause will become active in his contract. His previous clause was set at around £55m, but there’s no word on the value of the new one.
The Athletic report that Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle United were all interested in Sesko last summer, and the striker will be one of the Gunners’ top targets in 2025.
Simon Collings previously wrote for The Standard that Sesko can leave Leipzig at the end of the season for £60m, and it was just that his current club didn’t want to let him go in the middle of their top-four race.
RB Leipzig are fourth in the Bundesliga table, just one point ahead of fifth place. They’ve been eliminated from the Champions League, but they have a German cup quarter-final coming up later this month. There’s still a lot to play for.
Sesko has scored 14 goals and assisted three in 29 appearances for Leipzig this season. The Slovenia international has also been performing well for his country, with five goals in his last six games.
Still just 21 years old, Sesko is clearly a big attacking talent, but Arsenal will have to wait to try to add him to their ranks.