ARSENAL have been dealt a huge transfer blow after it was firstly claimed that they “held the upper hand” in the chase for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
The 21-year-old Slovenian striker is currently preparing to face England in the Euro 2024 group stages.
He has a host of top clubs chasing his services after he fired 23 goals for club and country last term.
A report emerged last week that three of the Premier League’s biggest teams are battling it out for the signature of the Bundesliga ace this summer.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are all determined to strengthen their front line before the start of next term.
They all want Sesko – who has a release clause of £55.3m – while Newcastle have also joined the long-list of admirers.
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But one giant appears to be leading the chase.
The NY Times states that “the feeling among those interested parties” is “that Arsenal are in pole position” to sign him.
The chasing pack “would like clarity on the situation” before the European Championship begins on Friday.
However, even though they know that his price tag will not be inflated should he have a golden summer for Slovenia in Germany due to the release clause, no-one wants any potential deal to drag on.
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And that could be good news for Arsenal.
There is a belief among the English clubs that Mikel Arteta’s men allegedly “hold the upper hand because they can offer Champions League football and stability”.
They are two things he and his camp feel are “lacking at Chelsea and United”.
But “there is a very real possibility Sesko will opt to stay at Leipzig”.
And this fresh report claims that “is more of a threat to Arsenal’s hopes than him electing to move elsewhere in the Premier League”.
Now transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has added more weight to that claim by stating that the player will be going nowhere.
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He wrote on X: “Benjamin Sesko has decided to STAY at RB Leipzig and sign new contract on improved terms!
“Decision made for talented striker, similar to what Haaland decided back in the days at BVB.
“Sesko will stay at Leipzig with a new gentlemen agreement for future exit.”
Sesko signed for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria back in 2019 as a 16-year-old from Domzale in his homeland.
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After spending two years on loan at their reserve team in the second tier, he went on to score 21 times for the first-team.
That led to him joining Salzburg’s sister club RB Leipzig on a five-year contract in 2022.
Mikel Arteta’s striker shopping list
By Jordan Davies
ARSENAL are stepping up plans to sign a world-class striker in the summer after their Champions League heartbreak.
Mikel Arteta splashed out £204.5m last summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
But the Spanish manager accepts he needs a proven goalscorer to take the club to the next level.
And here are the players he is looking at to get the Gunners firing:
BENJAMIN SESKO (RB Leipzig, value £40m-£45m)
One for the future at 20 years old. Scored 16 goals for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and the Slovenian has carried on that good form in Germany with Leipzig this campaign.
VIKTOR GYOKERES (Sporting Lisbon, value £60m-£80m)
Been scouted several times this season. The Swedish striker, 25, is more of a traditional No 9 so may not suit Arsenal’s demand for flexibility but would bring a physicality that boss Mikel Arteta craves.
ALEXANDER ISAK (Newcastle, value £75m-£85m)
Impressed in his first two seasons in English football. The Swede, 24, has the pace and finesse to match his finishing ability, and Eddie Howe’s Toon may need to sell to balance the books this summer.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (Bologna, value £45m-£50m)
Dutch wonder is attracting the attentions of clubs across Europe. At 6ft 4in the 22-year-old forward would have no trouble adapting to the Premier League and already has an eye for goal.
XAVI SIMONS (RB Leipzig, value £70m-£80m)
An incredible talent in the Bukayo Saka mould, currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The future of the Dutch attacker, 20, depends on how much money his parent club want to make from him.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
