By TAMARA PRENN
Published: 15:30 EST, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 15:30 EST, 10 December 2024
RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen has stoked Premier League club's interest in his team-mate Benjamin Sesko by calling the striker 'the best he's ever played with' ahead of their side's Champions League meeting with Aston Villa.
The Slovenian No9 was considered a major target for Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of the summer transfer window as both top-flight sides sought to sharpen their attacking ranks.
Sesko is currently contracted at the Bundesliga club until 2029, after he instead chose to sign a one-year contract extension in June despite picking up interest in Slovenia's ranks at last summer's European Championship.
At the time, RB Leipzig hailed the 21-year-old as 'embodying the club's DNA and playing philosophy perfectly'.
As per Mail Sport, Sesko had been concerned about playing second fiddle to Kai Havertz ahead of a potential move to the Emirates, with the Gunners making clear he would not be guaranteed to play ahead of the Germany international.
But Poulsen's comments ahead of Tuesday night's kick-off could yet put European rivals on red alert to try and tempt the starlet away from the Red Bull Arena.
Benjamin Sesko has been lauded as the 'best' striker that his team-mate has ever played with
RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen was full of praise for the Slovenia international on Tuesday night
Sesko is thought to have been hesitant of a move to Arsenal over fears he would not be able to push Kai Havertz out of the starting XI
'As a striker, he's the best I've played with,' Poulsen told TNT Sports.
'If you look at his abilities, he has everything a top number 9 needs. He's still young, he still needs to learn, not the technical things about being a striker but maybe more the finesse side.
'He has everything, strength shooting, technique, everything.
'I like working with him and I'm trying to get him there - he'll go on and score a lot of goals for us and some point go to the club he'll love to play for.'
Leipzig gained a reputation for being a proving ground for talents European players in recent years and saw the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Josko Gvardiola, Christopher Nkunku leave for the English top-flight ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Mikel Arteta's side are still thought to be keeping tabs on the striker over the next two windows
Sesko's buyout clause is currently set at £55million, with the Gunners still thought to be keeping tabs on the player.
A strong start to his club campaign this term could see their interest rise even more, with the striker having scored nine and assisted a further three across all competitions for the German side.
Head coach Marco Rose will hope that his striker's form in turn helps salvage the club's Champions League chances as the league phase creeps closer to its conclusion.
Ahead of meeting Villa, the Bundesliga club sits 34th, and well within the knockout places with just two matchdays remaining.