Arsenal advancing in negotiations to sign priority transfer target after holding preliminary talks with player and his club: Reports

Arsenal are reportedly advancing in negotiations for a potential transfer of Benjamin Sesko. They have already had initial contact with RB Leipzig.

The Gunners are looking to strengthen their side this summer after another trophyless season. They finished second in the Premier League and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. They are now looking for reinforcements, especially in attack.

As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are advancing in talks with Benjamin Sesko. The RB Leipzig striker was linked with the Gunners last summer as well, but ended up signing a new contract at his current club. It expires in 2029, and as per Transfermarkt, his market value is €70 million. However, the German club are expected to demand much more.

Sesko has impressed with his performances for RB Leipzig since arriving from Red Bull Salzburg in 2023. He has scored 39 goals and provided eight assists in 87 games for them. The 22-year-old recorded 22 goals and six assists in 45 games across competitions in the 2024-25 season.

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As per Romano, an agreement between Arsenal and RB Leipzig is not expected this week, but talks are advancing well.

Pundit urges Arsenal not to sign Benjamin Sesko

Former Chelsea centre-back Frank Leboeuf has urged Arsenal not to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer. He believes the Slovenian striker is not worth the big fee the English giants would have to pay for him. He also suggested that there is no guarantee he will be a success, citing the example of Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.

Leboeuf said:

"The top people at clubs, if it’s not their money they don’t care, they will spend it. If the money was coming out of their bank account they would be more careful and cautious. That’s crazy [RB Leipzig’s valuation for Sesko]. You have so many examples of clubs who have spent big money on players from smaller clubs."

"Sesko plays for Leipzig, they are a family club and Arsenal are going to launch him into the Premier League? What is the guarantee you have that Sesko is going to produce? And you’re going to spend 80m euros on him? Look at Jadon Sancho, Darwin Nunez and so many others."

As per Sky Sports, Sesko will cost around €83 million for any suitor this summer. He has earned 41 caps for Slovenia and scored 16 goals.

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Aditya has been working as a European football journalist and editor for Sportskeeda for close to 3 years. He boasts a total experience of over 6 years, and always aims to inculcate proper context in his articles, making the most of his prior stints in writing and marketing across a number of different industries over the years. He has also played football at college level for 2 years.

A B.Tech. graduate, Aditya's journey as an ardent football fan began after watching the elegant maestro Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the final. He has been a fan of Tottenham Hotspur's front foot and creative football since 2008 and connect's with the club's underdog status.

Aditya, who is a Sportskeeda 'Long-form Editor of the Month' award winner, is a big admirer of Luka Modric's elegant and hard-working style of play. His favorite manager is Carlo Ancelotti because the Italian allows his players enough freedom in an age where micromanagement is the established norm.

Aditya feels Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala could replicate the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry due to their incredible collective potential. In his free time, he likes to read classical fiction, travel to places, and explore a variety of foods.

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Edited by Aditya Singh