Sesko to Arsenal CONFIRMED as Arteta charm offensive pays off

Tom Weber

Updated: 19 Feb 2025 19:41 GMT
4 min read

Arsenal are the firm favourites to sign Benjamin Sesko in the summer and they seem all but guaranteed to land the Slovenian if they decide to turn their interest into a formal offer.

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The RB Leipzig striker was already the Gunners' top target last summer but ultimately decided that another season in Germany would be better for his development.

At the time, Sesko's release clause had just increased to around €65 million after a red-hot second half of the season but that detail in his contract was removed when he penned a new long-term deal with the Bundesliga side.

Nevertheless, the 21-year-old is expected to leave RB Leipzig in 2025, with the club having given the striker assurances that he will be allowed to move if suitors offer a fee in that same €65m ballpark.

What crucially works in Arsenal's favour is that Sesko was fully sold on Mikel Arteta's project last year. The striker was essentially given the choice between the Gunners, Chelsea and Man Utd and picked the first option before his change of heart saw him stay at Leipzig

Arsenal the favourites to sign Sesko

It is thought that Sesko's preference for Arsenal has not changed and Ben Jacobs has now confirmed that the North London giants are indeed the firm favourites to secure the striker's signature.

Arsenal, of course, also retain an interest in Alexander Isak, but Newcastle's reluctance to sell means that Sesko will be a much more attainable option. They are expected to land the 21-year-old barring any monumental changes or complications between now and the summer.

"I think if they do choose to formally proceed with Sesko in the summer, we can term Arsenal as 'the frontrunners' at this stage, and then we know that Isak is the other big name on the list that Arsenal really like. But obviously, he's a lot harder to get," Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT.

It means that Arsenal will, albeit somewhat belatedly, land their top striker and top midfielder target in the summer, with the Gunners also optimistic that they will be able to finalise the €60m signing of Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi in the coming weeks.