Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek has addressed the future of Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko, who has received a number of eye-watering proposals from the Saudi Pro League in recent days
Benjamin Sesko
Arsenal are hot in pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko but he is also wanted by clubs from the Saudi Pro League
(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto)
Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek has warned Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko that he must swerve a mega-money switch to Saudi Arabia. In the past few days, the 22-year-old striker has attracted interest from two Saudi Pro League clubs, who are looking to pip the Gunners to a deal by offering an eye-watering salary that Mikel Arteta's side will be unable to match.
However, thankfully for Arsenal, Sesko has already communicated via his representatives that his clear preference at this moment in time is to remain in Europe.
Al Hilal have been working around the clock to land a striker before for the Club World Cup after being snubbed by Victor Osimhen and they've also courted Liverpool's Darwin Nunez and Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, another name of interest to Arsenal.
Now Slovenia head coach Kek, who previously spent time in the Middle East managing Al-Ittihad, has weighed in on the saga by advising Sesko to snub the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia.
He said after his side ran out 2-1 winners over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a friendly on Tuesday night: "I would advise him never to go there. At least not at his age. This is a great recognition, these are clubs that mean a lot.
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"It's not that I underestimate the Saudi league, on the contrary, I worked there at Ittihad and the club is still a part of me, I also watch the league regularly, but the time will come for that.
"I am sure that Benjamin himself and the people who care for him will be smart enough and find a solution. That is, he goes somewhere where he can play football, because that is the only way he can be happy."
Despite being called up to the Slovenia national team squad, Sesko did not play a single minute of action against Luxembourg or Bosnia as he has been nursing a knee issue over the past few weeks.
Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek
Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek has advised Benjamin Sesko to snub a move to the Saudi Pro League
Mirror Football recently reported that RB Leipzig had privately contacted the Slovenian FA to request that Sesko was left out of both games in the buildup to the fixtures.
The Bundesliga side did not deem Sesko ready to play as he was unable to feature in an end-of-season friendly against Santos in Brazil and additionally, they have been fearful that injury could potentially scupper a summer transfer.
Leipzig need to raise cash after missing out on European football and they're ready to offload both Sesko and Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons providing their valuations are met.
Marcel Schafer, the director at Leipzig, has already held discussions with Arsenal chief Andrea Berta over a move and talks are now beginning to gather pace.
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