REVEALED: Why Sesko rejected Arsenal transfer

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 7 Nov 2024 12:07 CST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have been told how much they will need to pay to sign Benjamin Sesko after it was revealed why the RB Leipzig rejected a transfer to the Gunners during the summer.

Sesko was Arsenal’s top choice to strengthen up front, having scored 14 goals in his debut campaign in the Bundesliga, while Chelsea and Manchester United were also interested in a deal.

Arsenal had been willing to activate the Slovenian’s release clause but Sesko rejected the chance to leave Leipzig and opted to extend his contract with Leipzig instead of moving to the Emirates.

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Sesko insisted he had no regrets over his decision and believed he still had more room to progress at Leipzig, prompting the 21-year-old to sign a new deal until 2029.

A report in the Daily Mail has claimed that, while Sesko ‘gave serious consideration’ over a move to Arsenal, the striker eventually felt he would not be guaranteed first team football with the Gunners after the club made it clear that he would not be ahead of Kai Havertz in the pecking order up front.

Despite the rejection, Arsenal are still monitoring Sesko’s progress and it is understood that his new deal still contains a €65 million release clause, with Mikel Arteta’s side likely to consider a fresh approach next summer.

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Sesko has continued his goalscoring form this season, having netted three teams each in the Bundesliga and Champions League as Leipzig’s starting striker.

Leipzig have fielded both Sesko and another Arsenal target in Lois Openda up front this season, with the latter scoring five times in eight Bundesliga games.

STATS

Benjamin Sesko

F (C)

RB Leipzig

Benjamin Sesko

F (C)

RB Leipzig

All Tournaments

2024/25

• 18

  Games

• 11

  Goals

• 3

  Assists

View all stats

Openda was one of many forwards that Arsenal considered during the summer, along with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Alexander Isak.

Arsenal are likely to pursue a new striker in the coming transfer windows, having been unconvinced by the form of Gabriel Jesus, while Havertz has still often been fielded in midfield due to the injury to captain Martin Odegaard.

Gyokeres is still considered a ‘dream’ target by Arsenal, sources have told FootballTransfers, after his prolific form at Sporting continued, with a move to Manchester United thought to be unlikely despite the impending arrival of Ruben Amorim as the club’s manager.