Arsenal has initiated talks with RB Leipzig regarding a deal to sign Benjamin Sesko, according to reports from Germany.
Mikel Arteta has made the acquisition of a new striker one of his top priorities for the summer transfer window, and Arsenal has already drawn up a shortlist that includes both Viktor Gyokeres and Sesko.
Gyokeres is on the verge of concluding another incredible season with Sporting CP, having scored 53 goals in 51 appearances. This prolificacy has helped his club win the Portuguese league title, and they are also competing for the cup as Sporting faces Benfica in the Taca de Portugal final this Saturday afternoon.
Gyokeres has also attracted strong interest from Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim reportedly very keen to reunite with the striker he managed at Sporting. However, Gyokeres’ uncle claimed this week that the striker has decided to stay for his third season at Sporting.
Meanwhile, Sesko has concluded the campaign with 21 goals in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig. However, the German club expects to face significant financial losses after finishing seventh in the Bundesliga and missing out on European competition next season.
According to Sky Germany, RB Leipzig is open to offers for Sesko. The German club’s sporting director, Marcel Schafer, has held talks with Andrea Berta, his counterpart at Arsenal, to discuss the terms of a potential deal.
The report states that Arteta prefers the signing of Sesko over Gyokeres. RB Leipzig is reportedly demanding a fee of over €80 million (£67m) for their leading striker.
The Slovenia international joined RB Leipzig from RB Salzburg for €24 million (£20.6m) in 2023, signing a five-year contract that included a release clause of £55 million. That figure has now increased to over £67 million (€80m) ahead of the summer transfer window, as it is dependent on his appearances, goals, and assists for the German club.
When asked about his future earlier this month, Sesko said: “We will see what happens. It’s open, anything can happen.”