What’s happening with Benjamin Sesko’s Arsenal transfer after he ‘said yes’ to joining club

Arsenal’s search for an out-and-out goalscorer could come to an end this summer, and 21-year-old Benjamin Sesko is one name that has long been on the Gunners’ radar

It was reported that RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko favoured a move to Arsenal last year, but the Gunners may need to part with an eye-watering sum to secure his services now. Mikel Arteta’s side endured a tumultuous 2024/25 season, which once again ended without silverware or a major final.

They were forced to settle for second place in the Premier League for the third year in a row, and a Champions League run ended in disappointment at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the semis. One notable statistic that arose from a season filled with injury was that, for the first time in 1924, no Arsenal player reached the 10 league goals tally.

For some time, recruiting a striker has been on the north London club’s agenda, and Slovenian prodigy Sesko is one name that has constantly seen himself linked with a move to the Emirates. In May 2024, Mirror Football reported that the 21-year-old preferred Arteta’s outfit over any other likely suitors, though now, the path to completing his transfer has allegedly become all the more costly.

Amid reports linking Sesko to the Premier League 12 months ago, it was revealed that, out of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United, he would rather end up with the Gunners. This revelation was followed in January by the claim that a £60million gentleman’s agreement had been reached between the player and his German employers, meaning he would be able to leave this summer for that amount.

A substantial January offer was rumoured to have been enough for Leipzig to part ways with Sesko then, and while Barcelona’s eye was caught alongside the interested Gunners, such an offer never arrived.

Fast-forward to the here and now and new reports suggest that £60m would not be enough for suitors Arsenal to secure Sesko’s services. Instead, the Telegraph now reports that a price tag of £92m has been slapped on the marksman.

Sesko mustered 21 goals in 45 matches for Leipzig during the campaign gone by, though with his club missing out on European football, it is likely that finances will need to be raised.

Arsenal have reportedly been discussing internally whether to push ahead and attempt to strike a deal with Leipzig, with Chelsea also interested, or aim efforts at signing Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres. When asked in April about what may happen this summer, Sesko replied: “We’ll see what happens. It’s open, anything can happen.”

Arteta, too, has stayed coy on Arsenal’s plans for this upcoming window, but did hint that while an initial budget and plan have been put in place, the option to break the bank under sporting director Andrea Berta is there.

“The thing is that the budget is like when you have your wedding, you plan your wedding with your wife and you give her a budget and never less, it’s always more,” admitted Arteta.

“When you build a house, it’s always more. Normally, this happens. You prepare for different scenarios. Then, unfortunate things happen. Sometimes we want a player, and suddenly we have an injury, or that player gets injured.

“There are so many variables that can happen, but there is a budget. There is always an idea of what we can do, what we can improve, what the priorities are going to be, and then let’s see if we can do it.”

It remains to be seen where Arsenal’s attacking attention will primarily turn, but with the window briefly opening from Sunday until June 10 due to the Club World Cup, Berta and Co may be wise to move quick and finally resolve Arteta’s glaring issue once and for all.

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