Benjamin Sesko is set to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig after snubbing transfer interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. The highly-coveted 21-year-old striker has a £55million release clause written into his current deal but now he’s poised to sign fresh terms and extend his stay in the Bundesliga, where he will become one of Leipzig’s top-earners.
Sesko travels to Germany today with the Slovenia national team and wanted to make a swift decision over his future ahead of the European Championships. It comes after Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek, who is keen to avoid any potential distractions ahead of the tournament, recently labelled the transfer saga a “circus”.
But Sesko’s agent Elvis Basanovic has now communicated to relevant parties that the frontman will be staying put this summer. His new deal will also include a gentleman’s agreement with Leipzig that will enable Sesko to move onto pastures for a fair price in the future.
Mirror Football understands Arsenal had been in the box-seat for Sesko and the Gunners were understood to be his preference if he was to depart Leipzig. One source suggests all three of his Premier League suitors – including Chelsea and Manchester United – were prepared to meet his buy-out clause.
Yet at the same time, Sesko’s agent Basanovic had also made it known that there was every chance he would remain at Leipzig to continue his impressive development after hitting 18 goals in all competitions this season.
The signing of a world-class striker is not believed to be the be-all and end-all for Mikel Arteta and Edu this summer.
There is appreciation for the likes of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen among others but the club are not hell-bent on landing a marquee centre-forward, certainly for some of the eye-watering figures that have been quoted, following Kai Havertz’s impressive finish to the campaign.
Additionally, Sesko was not the only target on Arsenal’s radar despite being a top pick. A new winger to bolster attacking options could be in the offing while Arsenal are also open to strengthening in central midfield with Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes among the names of interest. Thomas Partey’s future remains up in the air as he approaches the final year of his contract.
The Gunners are also admirers of Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana, who is set to leave the Ligue 1 club this summer, and have held initial talks with his representatives but at this stage, discussions have gone no further than that.
