Arsenal’s pursuit Benjamin Sesko ultimately broke down over RB Leipzig’s asking price, with the striker reportedly set to remain where he is.
Going into the summer, Arsenal’s primary centre-forward targets were RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Sesko initially appeared to be the frontrunner, with the Gunners having bid for the Slovenian international in the summer of 2024 and making another approach in January 2025.
As recently as late June, Sami Mokbel of the BBC suggested that if all went to plan, it would be Sesko signing for Arsenal this time around. Yet the Gunners are now pushing forward with a move for Gyokeres instead.
Slovenian journalist Miran Zore reports that Arsenal wouldn’t offer more than €65m (£56.1m) for Sesko, but Leipzig wanted €90m (£77.7m) and refused to entertain lower offers.
As a result, Zore expects Sesko to remain in Germany for the 2025/26 campaign.
The report highlights that Gyokeres took a pay cut to help negotiations with Arsenal, and the striker is currently holding a training strike to push through a move. By contrast, Sesko has seemingly made no real effort to help Arsenal in their talks with Leipzig.
Christian Falk of Bild confirms to CaughtOffside that though Sesko was Mikel Arteta’s first-choice centre-forward, the player was ultimately regarded as too expensive. That was also the case with Manchester United, who showed an interest but were similarly put off by the asking price.
Falks adds that as it stands, it does seem as though Sesko will remain where he is for another season. Unless a suitor suddenly appears with a willingness to pay Leipzig’s €90m asking price.