Who is Benjamin Sesko? Arsenal target Chelsea and Man Utd-linked star compared to Erling Haaland

Fri Apr 19 01:00:00 IST 2024

Arsenal are working behind the scenes to prepare for the summer transfer window, as they look to bring in new additions. At the top of the list will be to sign a new forward.

The Gunners were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday night.

Joshua Kimmich scored the only goal that separated the sides at the Allianz Arena.

After the game, Mikel Arteta admitted that the club are short of a striker who can score a significant amount of goals in a season, suggesting that might have been key to their qualification to the semi-finals of the competition. He said: "The reality is we don’t have a striker who is going to score 35, 40 goals – and we have to live with that.

"We have many other qualities. And today’s the day to stick behind the players because they have given us so much, they have taken us on this journey and we still have the Premier League to play."

Arsenal have scored 75 goals in the Premier League this season, which is a figure surpassed by only Manchester City on 76 goals. Bukayo Saka is the Gunners' top goal scorer with 18 goals but he has been heavily relied on which has had an impact on his performance levels.

football.london understands that Sesko is on the club's wishlist ahead of the summer transfer window as Arteta looks to boost his attacking options for next season. The Evening Standard meanwhile, claims that club officials have scouted the 20-year-old this season.

With that said, we have taken a look at the latest name to be linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Who is Benjamin Sesko?

Benjamin Sesko is a 20-year-old Slovenian forward who currently plays for RB Leipzig. He completed the move to the Bundesliga side from Red Bull Salzburg, last summer.

Sesko began his career at Slovenian side Radece at the age of seven. He moved out of his homeland at the age of 16, signing for Salzburg, where he spent four seasons.

The youngster received a call-up for Slovenia under-15's at the age of 14. His senior debut then followed, four years later, after he progressed through the U16, U17 and U19s.

He has been compared to Manchester City's Erling Haland for being tall and a mobile forward. Sesko also followed in the footsteps of Haaland by joining Salzburg.

How has he done this season?

The forward has scored 13 goals and provided two assists in 37 games for Leipzig. This season, he has started 13 out of the 28 games, while being named as an unused substitute in two.

He featured in all eight Champions League games and scored twice before Leizpig were knocked out in the round-of-16 to Real Madrid.

Who else has been linked?

The Standard Evening reports that Manchester United and Chelsea are also tracking him. Sesko's representatives are claimed to have been guests at both United's and the Blues' games this season.

How would he fit at Arsenal?

Being able to play as a forward as well as a winger, Sesko is an attractive option for Arteta who is looking to bolster both positions in his squad. Sesko could be an alternative option to Saka, who is arguably the most undroppable figure in the Arsenal team.

Saka is the current record holder for the club regarding consecutive starts, having started in all 30 league games this season. As well as in nine out of the 10 Champions League games.

His reliability has seen him continue his momentum through the course of the last couple of seasons but this has often raised questions over his fitness and building fatigue.

What is his contract release clause?

Under contract until 2028, Sesko is claimed to have a €50million (£43m) release clause that will come into effect in the summer. Leipzig paid €24m (£20m) for his signature in the summer of 2023.

Since joining the German club, Sesko's price tag has increased by €10m and he's now valued at €40m (£34m) by transfermarkt.

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