DEAL COMPLETE! Fabrizio Romano reports Arsenal has agreed to pay around £42.5 million, including add-ons, for a star striker predicted to be the Premier League’s next big thing, beating Manchester United, Chelsea, and PSG to the signing.
RB Leipzig is negotiating Benjamin Sesko’s release clause, with Arsenal preparing to make a move. Senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast that Leipzig aims to remove Sesko’s £42.5 million release clause to complicate his transfer. Sesko is Mikel Arteta’s top target to strengthen Arsenal’s offense alongside Kai Havertz for the upcoming season. Although Viktor Gyokeres is also of interest, Sporting CP’s high asking price may deter Arsenal.
Arsenal plans to secure Sesko’s transfer before his release clause expires at the end of June, according to a May 23 report from Football Insider.
After transferring from RB Salzburg to RB Leipzig for £20 million in 2023, Sesko scored 18 goals in 42 games during his first season, attracting multiple potential buyers. He also netted 14 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances and 11 goals in 28 games for Slovenia. Despite a slow start with just two goals in his first 15 league games for Leipzig, Sesko finished the season strong, contributing a goal or assist in all but three of Leipzig’s final 16 Bundesliga matches and scoring in each of his last seven games.
Arsenal and other European clubs have noticed Sesko’s impressive end-of-season performance. Arteta’s team sees him as the ideal solution to their attacking issues, despite Havertz’s late-season form.