Tom Weber
Tom Weber
Updated: 30 Nov 2024 16:44 GMT
4 min read
Benjamin Sesko, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
© IMAGO
Benjamin Sesko signed a new RB Leipzig contract in the summer to continue his development in a familiar environment. At this point, however, is regressing rather than progressing.
The Slovenia international was the hottest striker commodity heading into the previous summer transfer window. Sesko finished the 2023/24 campaign in red-hot form and was viewed as a relatively affordable option.
His release clause had risen from €50 million to €65m due to his performances in the second half of the season but clubs still viewed the 21-year-old as a 'market opportunity.'
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Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd battled for his signature but Sesko shocked all of them - particularly the Gunners who felt they had made a compelling case - by signing a new RB Leipzig contract.
After his extension, Sesko explained that he decided to stay and continue his development in the Bundesliga for at least another season, but this decision is looking increasingly questionable.
Benjamin Sesko
© IMAGO - Benjamin Sesko
Sesko's disappointing season
Sesko has been unable to keep up the form he showed towards the back end of last season. In the early stages of the new campaign, he made negative headlines as he failed to meaningfully influence Leipzig's games.
Early on, Sesko endured a run of four matches in which he mustered just one shot per game. He then appeared to emphatically overcome his slump with a stunning brace against Augsburg after which he vowed to better his previous goal tally of 18.
However, since that brace on September 29, he has scored one Bundesliga goal. To be sure, it is not all his fault because Leipzig in general are in the midst of a very disappointing campaign.
The Red Bulls are in dire form and have not won a game since October. In the Champions League - in which Sesko has scored three times in five games - Leipzig have lost each of their five games.
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On Saturday, Leipzig found themselves 3-0 down at home within 15 minutes in a crunch game with Wolfsburg, managed by their former head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl. They would go on to lose 5-1.
Sesko got hooked after 69 minutes after failing to play any kind of role in the match, which has become a worrying theme in recent fixtures and indeed for much of the season.
Leipzig intended to challenge for the league title this season but now find themselves eight points off leaders Bayern Munich, who are yet to play this weekend at the time of writing.
The club's form and inability is surely making Sesko question his decision to stay put in the summer. An exit in 2025 is becoming increasingly likely, but his suitors - chief among them Arsenal, who remain keen - will have to think longer and harder about signing him than they had to do just a few months ago.
Sesko's form is a major concern even if seven goals and three assists in 17 games across all competitions is far from a terrible return. His overall play, however, has been very disappointing indeed.