Arsenal have made a preliminary inquiry for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, according to The Pitch Prospect.
The north London club have revived their interest in Sesko since last year, although this is the caseThe end-of-season move is still complicated, with his club reluctant to sell at this stage despite Leipzig being eliminated from the Champions League.
4
To make things even more complicated, Sesko’s agent has made it clear that a loan move in January is not an option.
Given the cruciate ligament injury Gabriel Jesus sustained earlier this month, Sesko remains one of Arsenal’s main targets as a striker.
The Leipzig striker was convinced of Arsenal’s project last summer but opted for an extension with the German side as he felt staying was best for his short-term development.
The 21-year-old moved from RB Salzburg to Leipzig in 2023 after spending two years on loan at FC Liefering – a reserve team for Salzburg.
Sesko, a Slovenian international, has scored eight goals and assisted two in the Bundesliga so far this season.
He scored a total of 31 goals in 67 games for Leipzig and won three Austrian Bundesliga titles, the Austrian Cup and the DFL Supercup.
At the individual level, he was named Slovenian Footballer of the Year in 2022 and has won the Slovenian Youth Footballer of the Year title three years in a row from 2021 to 2023.
Arsenal are considering a number of striker options for the January or summer transfer window as they continue to lack a strong No.9.
Jesus has had an injury-hit spell at Arsenal and although he has returned to form recently, he is ruled out for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury he sustained in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
Star player Bukayo Saka will also be out for another few weeks due to a thigh injury that required surgery.
4
4
Their urgency for a striker also comes after recent performances in front of goal highlighted the need for someone more productive.
Ex-Arsenal player Perry Groves recently urged the club to sign a world-class striker, even if he “has to pay more than expected”.
The Gunners’ lack of ruthlessness in front of goal was on display again last weekend when they blew a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
Kai Havertz, who has not scored more than 13 goals in a league season since the 2018/19 season when he played for Bayer Leverkusen, has been tasked with carrying the Gunners’ goalscoring load.
In fact, no Arsenal player has scored more than 20 league goals in a season since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2019/20 season.
With a lack of a suitable centre-forward, the Gunners are now tempted to make a splash and sign one in January, although options are limited.
4
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray, was another option for Arsenal, as was Newcastle’s in-form striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at £150m.
Arsenal will be hoping they can put their goalscoring woes behind them on Wednesday evening when they host Dinamo Zagreb in their penultimate league stage game of the Champions League, live on The Pitch Prospect 2.