- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Arsenal scouted Benjamin Sesko on Saturday with the Premier League runners-up hoping to steal a march on Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle in pursuit of the £55 million-rated RB Leipzig striker.
HITC understands that, one day before Manchester City were confirmed as Champions for the fourth year in a row, an Arsenal side who narrowly missed out on the top-flight title had scouts in attendance to watch a man who may yet become one of the summer’s biggest stories.
Benjamin Sesko, the in-form RB Leipzig frontman, has a £55 million ‘active’ release clause in his contract, that fee rising after a stunning run of form in recent months.
Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United are long-time admirers, though Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils are looking to bring in a more experienced number nine to ease the pressure on Rasmus Hojlund. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have watched Sesko too.
Arsenal, meanwhile, appear to be stepping up their own interest. The Gunners ran the rule over Sesko as the Slovenia international scored for a seventh successive Bundesliga game during Saturday’s 2-2 final day draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Arsenal watch RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko
Sesko, still only 20, agreed to join Leipzig from their Red Bull sister club Salzburg in 2022. He has scored 18 goals in his first season at a club in a major European league, 14 of those coming in Germany’s first division.
An explosive finisher and a real physical specimen of a number nine, Sesko would give Arsenal’s attack a different dimension compared to the subtlety of Kai Havertz and the willing-but-wasteful of Gabriel Jesus.
“I think he is one of the best talents in the world at his age,” said Elvis Basanovic, Sesko’s agent, speaking during his time in Austria.
Sesko has frequently been likened to one-time Salzburg star Erling Haaland, albeit comparisons his representative was reluctant to breathe life into.
“I don’t like when people compare Sesko to Erling Haaland,” Basanovic added.
“Each player is different and unique. He has his own way of playing, his own career goals, and he’s sure to have a different career too.
“I think he is a very complete striker who can score with his head, with his right foot, with his left foot, from inside the area, from distance, after dribbling or completing a team move.
“He is very fast, in some games he reaches a speed of over 36km/h (22.3 mp/h) which makes him one of the fastest forwards in the world.”
Leipzig striker putting up ‘exceptional’ numbers
Sesko was often overshadowed by fellow Leipzig forward Lois Openda in the first half of the campaign but has really hit his stride in recent months.
HITC understands that Arsenal are also considering the likes of Brentford talisman Ivan Toney, Juventus frontman Dusan Vlahovic, Besiktas wonderkid Semih Kilicsoy, Alexander Isak of Newcastle and Sporting Lisbon’s 43-goal firebrand Viktor Gyokeres.
“His (Sesko’s) skills as a centre-forward are exactly what every club is looking for,” Leipzig veteran Yussuf Poulsen tells Kicker, “He’s tall, quick and technically strong. He has more or less everything. He’s a super guy who is also willing to learn. Not everyone is.
“I just try to pass on to him what I’ve learned over the last eleven years.”
“Yussi has an incredibly good relationship with Benny and has also contributed to his development,” adds head coach Marco Rose.
“Sesko runs over 12 kilometers in every game and averages 30 sprints. Those are exceptional figures.”
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