Arsenal’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko, the 21-year-old RB Leipzig striker, faces a new obstacle as Barcelona have entered the race for the Slovenian forward.
Sesko, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young talents, negotiated a £60 million “gentleman’s agreement” with Leipzig, allowing him to leave this summer.
However, with Barcelona’s interest, Arsenal may face stiff competition for his signature.
Mikel Arteta identified Sesko as Arsenal’s top striker target last summer, but the player opted to remain in Leipzig for another season. Sesko has since enhanced his reputation, scoring 13 goals this campaign, including a run of five in his last five Bundesliga matches. Arsenal, still keen to secure him, were prepared to wait until the summer, but Barcelona’s involvement, and Gabriel Jesus’s injury, may force the Gunners to reassess their strategy.
Leipzig, who sit fifth in the Bundesliga but have already been eliminated from the Champions League, remain committed to honouring the £60 million agreement. However, they are open to a larger January bid, which could further complicate matters for Arsenal. Jesus’s injury hasn’t just deprived Arsenal of a player now, it has also impacted their transfer budget as they were planning to sell him in the summer but now need to pay over the odds to replace him.
Sesko’s performances and Leipzig’s lack of competition beyond the DFB Pokal may influence his decision to leave in the summer. Arsenal’s Champions League ambitions and Arteta’s vision could offer Sesko an attractive project, but Barcelona’s global allure cannot be ignored, even if their financial struggles raise questions.
Arsenal have explored other targets, including Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus, Viktor Gyökeres of Sporting Lisbon, and Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao, but Sesko remains the priority. With Barcelona now in the frame, Arsenal will need to act decisively if they are to win the battle for one of Europe’s most coveted strikers.
Related Posts
