Arsenal, Chelsea & Man Utd alerted as striker target eyes January transfer

Tom Weber

• Updated: 22 Dec 2023 12:40 GMT
• 3 min read

Benjamin Sesko is open to leaving RB Leipzig in January, according to a report.

The youngster arrived at Leipzig from sister club RB Salzburg in the summer in a €24 million deal. That type of fee would be enough to make him the undisputed starting number nine for most Bundesliga sides, but Leipzig, who raked in north of €200m in sales, also splashed a club-record figure on Lois Openda.

Instead of Sesko, the Belgian has been Marco Rose's go-to man up top and he has hit like a bomb in the German top flight. Openda's stunning impact has limited Sesko to a rotation role that has seen him mostly feature off the bench, with even veteran Yussuf Poulsen being favoured over the youngster in recent times.

The 20-year-old Slovenia international was once touted as the 'next Erling Haaland' due to having been prolific for Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. In Germany, however, his career has been stagnating somewhat and he is looking to remedy this.

Sesko wants January move

At least that's according to 90min, which claims that the striker is open to leaving Leipzig in January. A loan with an option to buy is seen as a realistic solution to his game time problem and he will have no shortage of suitors.

As FootballTransfers exclusively revealed, Sesko has been discussed as an option at Arsenal, while the likes of Chelsea and particularly Man Utd also hold an interest in the wonderkid. Indeed, the Red Devils at least twice attempted to sign him previously - but in vain.

The above-mentioned report asserts that these clubs have been informed that a January deal is there to be struck, though Leipzig would naturally like to keep hold of what could yet turn out to be a valuable asset, especially should the sought-after Openda leave in 2024. It is claimed, though, that the Red Bulls would entertain offers in excess of €40m.