Arsenal - Benjamin Sesko
Image credit: Getty Images
RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from Slovenia’s upcoming friendly against Luxembourg due to injury, just as Arsenal intensify their efforts to sign the highly-rated forward this summer.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed an impressive campaign in Germany, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists across all competitions in his debut season at Leipzig. However, despite his contributions, the Bundesliga side failed to qualify for European competition, casting fresh doubt over Sesko’s long-term future.
Sesko, who previously helped Red Bull Salzburg to three consecutive Austrian league titles, has long been on the radar of Premier League clubs. Arsenal’s interest, however, is said to be more serious this time, with Mikel Arteta keen to add a clinical striker to his squad following three straight second-place finishes in the Premier League.
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The Gunners are looking to end a 21-year wait for the title and believe a proven goalscorer could be the missing piece in their quest for silverware. Sesko is one of Arsenal’s top attacking targets this summer, with the club also tracking other forward options as the transfer window opens.
Arsenal - Benjamin Sesko
Benjamin Sesko (Image credit: Getty Images)
The striker was included in Slovenia’s squad for friendlies against Luxembourg and Bosnia & Herzegovina during the June international break. However, reports fromSportklub confirm that Sesko did not travel with the team to Luxembourg City and has pulled out of Friday’s match due to an injury sustained at the end of Leipzig’s season.
Although he joined the national team camp earlier in the break, Sesko has yet to train and will remain at the team’s base in Slovenia. There remains hope he could recover in time for Tuesday’s clash with Bosnia & Herzegovina in Celje.
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Slovenia head coach Matjaž Kek remained calm about the situation with Sesko, saying: “This means an opportunity for someone else. There are quite a few new names who have made a good impression through our league, but now we have to put everything together into a mosaic that, I hope, will be good. You don’t get into the national team with one good move, and you don’t get out of it because of one bad move. These are the guys who earned it over time.”
Despite the injury, Sesko’s potential transfer is not believed to be in jeopardy. According toSky Germany, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta recently held a discreet meeting with RB Leipzig’s sporting director Marcel Schäfer to discuss a possible deal.
The forward’s contract includes a £67.5 million (€80m) release clause, with negotiations reportedly ongoing over how the payment could be structured. Sesko still has four years remaining on his Leipzig deal, but Arsenal are hopeful of striking an agreement as they look to finally land the striker they’ve been missing.
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