Arsenal’s chase for Benjamin Sesko has been given a leg up as RB Leipzig are rumoured to have slashed their asking price. The Gunners haven’t yet bagged a centre-forward in the summer transfer window, but they’ve got their sights set on Sesko.
Mikel Arteta is well aware that they need a top-notch striker to beef up their front line after landing second place in the Premier League for the third year running. Sporting director Andrea Berta has been handed the job of securing one and has been eyeing deals for Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s goal machine Viktor Gyokeres.
However, things have gone a bit quiet recently, much to the irritation of some fans who are itching for a new striker to be brought in. But it seems Arsenal’s patience might just pay off, with Bild suggesting that Leipzig are softening their stance.
It was initially believed that the German club were holding out for a hefty €80million to €100m (£68m and £85m) for Sesko. This had put the Premier League side off, prompting them to look elsewhere.
But now it appears that a cool €70m (£59.7m) could be enough to secure the 22 year old, who’s tied down with Leipzig until June 2029 and netted 21 goals in 45 matches across all competitions last season, reports the Mirror.
Arsenal have long had their eye on Sesko, viewing him as a superior option to Gyokeres for several reasons.
The Slovenian international is five years junior to the 27-year-old ex-Coventry City forward and competes in a more challenging league, with the Bundesliga considered superior to the Portuguese top tier.
Sesko is open to a Premier League move this summer, but his agent is adopting a different stance to that of Gyokeres, who has fallen out with Sporting’s management.
Responding to speculation that he had been pressuring Leipzig to reduce their asking price, Elvis Basanovic stated: “This is far from truth.
“We respect RB Leipzig and I am 100 per cent convinced RB Leipzig will also respect our decision for the next step when we decide to do it. Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig.
“I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.
“I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests but no matter what, I believe in football world should be more respect.
“So that’s why we do things in the right way or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”
