Benjamin Sesko ‘gentleman’s agreement’ emerges as Arsenal deal accelerates
Benjamin Sesko has a “gentleman’s agreement” with RB Leipzig as Arsenal now look to spend big on a deal for him, The Mirror reports.
The Gunners have struggled with injuries to attackers Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus, and the North London side are keen to sign a striker this January.
Mikel Arteta has made clear that the club are active in this month’s transfer window and there has been dialogue with the hierarchy about finding a striker for the Spaniard.
Top striker target, Sesko, has been a player that Arsenal were keen to sign since last summer, but the Slovenian decided to stay in Germany for one more year.
Sesko is understood to have a “gentleman’s agreement” with his club that would allow him to leave for a fee of £60million in the summer, but after the injuries to their forwards, Arsenal are now hoping that they can encourage Leipzig to sell this January.
Despite growing interest in the six foot four inch striker, and Arsenal are believed to be the front-runners in a deal to sign the Slovenian as they are now prepared to spend serious money if they can land a “primary target”.
Sesko could be the difference maker for Arsenal as they push for a Premier League title
Football Insider Verdict
Much has been made of Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, who has not looked comfortable leading the line for the team since signing from rivals Chelsea.
The German’s woes in front of goal, have led to fans calling for him to be replaced, and the injuries to the aforementioned Saka and Jesus have exacerbated the issue.
Alexander Isak is a name that continuously crops up when a new striker is mentioned, but the Newcastle man would be incredibly expensive and the Magpies are trying to tie him down to a new contract.
That leaves Sesko as the most likely Havertz replacement, the Slovenian is a tall and powerful striker and possesses a lot of traits that make him similar to Isak.
The Slovenian spent time developing at RB Salzburg in Austria, where Erling Haaland also spent two seasons, before moving to Germany.
Sesko is a raw talent, and hasn’t set the world alight in the Bundesliga in the way that the Norweigan did, but he is still young and his lack of composure is something that a talented coach like Arteta would be capable of fixing with time.
In other news, Nottingham Forest are looking to hijack a deal for an Arsenal target this transfer window.
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