- 10 hours ago
Arsenal bombshell: All change for ‘stronger than Haaland’ striker
Robin Bairner
- 18 May 2024 13:30 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has already shown a certain flexibility over his plan to sign a centre-forward for the Gunners this summer but is set to be pushed into a further rethink.
Initially, the Emirates club were set to push for a big-money arrival such as Victor Osimhen of Napoli or Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP.
Kai Havertz’s form, however, prompted a rethink from Arteta. FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that the German’s scoring persuaded the manager that there is no necessity to splash out big money on a No.9.
READ MORE: Arsenal boost in €80m Dutch double deal but Romano delivers a warning
As such, Arsenal started to seriously track RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. With a €50 million release clause in his deal, he was seen as a player who could add quality to the team without necessarily breaking the bank.
But that has changed in recent days, with Christian Falk indicating that Sesko’s transfer fee has leapt up 50%.
READ MORE: Ramsdale has 'agreed' transfer to Premier League rivals
STATS
Benjamin Sesko
F (RL), AM (L)
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko
F (RL), AM (L)
RB Leipzig
Sesko priced out the market?
Sesko’s release clause has increased from €50m to €75m following his excellent recent displays.
“Benjamin Sesko is the hottest Bundesliga stock in England at the moment. Arsenal FC and Manchester United are particularly interested in the striker,” Falk writes for the Daily Briefing.
“In Leipzig they say: Sesko is physically even stronger than Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Both strikers were trained at Red Bull Salzburg.
“Like Haaland, Sesko also demanded an exit clause for a move to the Bundesliga. This clause amounted to €50m. But due to his strong performances and many appearances, the clause has now been increased to €75m for this summer.
“Arsenal and United now know what they have to put on the table for Sesko.”
It remains to be seen just how much money Arteta is willing to push towards signing an additional No.9 given Arsenal are the second-leading scorers in the Premier League behind only Manchester City, particularly as there are other areas of the squad that need reinforced.
FootballTransfers’ understands, however, that the Gunners could spend a record amount in the forthcoming transfer window.
