Arsenal have now made their decision on a possible transfer for Benjamin Sesko this summer after RB Leipzig increased the price tag for the striker Chelsea are targeting.
The 20-year-old has put Arsenal and Chelsea on notice with his efforts with Die Roten Bullen so far this term. While Sesko has not always been a regular starter at the Red Bull Arena, the forward has been prolific in the Bundesliga since the turn of the year having turned a corner.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been keeping tight tabs on Sesko’s form as the Gunners and Blues identify their striker targets. Mikel Arteta and Mauricio Pochettino feel their respective clubs need a new attacking threat after receiving mixed results from their natural centre-forwards.
Arsenal and Chelsea remain keen on Benjamin Sesko despite RB Leipzig’s price hike
Arteta has seen Gabriel Jesus score eight goals in 37 games, including four in his 25 Premier League outings. Eddie Nketiah also only has six goals in 37 games, with five in 27 top-flight games. Nicolas Jackson has given Chelsea 16 goals in 41 games, with 13 in 32 in the league.
So, Sesko scoring 16 goals in his 40 outings for RB Leipzig this term, including 12 goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances, has drawn interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. That is according to Dean Jones, who reports that the London rivals remain keen despite the higher asking price.
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RB Leipzig will request £55m to sell Sesko this summer as the value of his release clause has increased. Yet the fee still falls within the parameters that Arsenal and Chelsea have set for a striker target. So, they remain keen on Sesko, who has nine goals in 18 games in 2024 alone.
Benjamin Sesko is showing why Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in his transfer
Sesko has even scored once in each of his past five Bundesliga appearances to keep Arsenal and Chelsea interested in his transfer. The 27-cap Slovenia international also started in each of those fixtures to reach 21 starts through his 40 appearances in all competitions this term.
Scoring freely has also kept Arsenal and Chelsea keen despite Sesko’s release clause rising to £55m. Christian Falk reported this February that RB Leipzig put a €50m (£43m) clause in Sesko’s contract to seal a €24m (£20.5m) transfer from RB Salzburg agreed in August 2022.
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Die Roten Bullen only welcomed Sesko from their sister Red Bull team in July 2023 and boss Marco Rose was slow to rely on him. But RB Leipzig are now seeing why they signed Sesko, who Christopher Vivell branded a ‘special’ player whilst the technical director at RB Leipzig.
“Sesko is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player,” Vivell once said, via quotes by Bundesliga.com.
“He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer who, despite his 1.95m (6 ft 4) [height], is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”