RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko reportedly decides to snub interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United to sign a new contract with the Bundesliga giants.
RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has reportedly come to a final decision on his immediate future amid talk of a possible swoop to the Premier League.
The 21-year-old is believed to have attracted glances from all of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United on account of his terrific end to the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign.
Sesko scored in each of Leipzig’s last seven matches of the top-flight campaign, and after scoring five goals for Slovenia in Euro 2024 qualifying, he will lead the line for his nation at this summer’s Championships.
The former Red Bull Salzburg starlet is already under contract at Leipzig for another four seasons, but his current terms reportedly include a release clause of around £55m, which all three Premier League teams would happily trigger.
Saudi Pro League sides had apparently also shown an interest before being informed that Sesko wanted to continue in Europe, and Arsenal were supposedly leading the charge thanks to their qualification for the Champions League.
© Reuters
Sesko ‘snubs Premier League trio’ to sign new Leipzig deal
At one stage, it was claimed that the 21-year-old had even given the green light to a move to the Emirates Stadium, but Leipzig were pushing to renew his contract at the same time.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Sesko has now decided to stay put at the Red Bull Arena and pen fresh terms on an improved salary, forcing Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea to scope out alternative options.
Leipzig are expected to announce Sesko’s renewal earlier this week, although there is reportedly a gentleman’s agreement between club and player over a future transfer elsewhere.
Sesko’s contract decision comes just before Slovenia open their Euro 2024 campaign against Denmark on June 16, before taking on Serbia on June 20 and England on June 25 in Group C.
All eyes were expected to be on the towering 6ft 5in striker in their clash with the Three Lions, but he will no longer be in the shop window at Euro 2024.
What alternatives can Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United target?
© Reuters
With Sesko electing to stay put at the Red Bull Arena for the time being, the pool of available strikers just decreased further for the Premier League giants, who have already been priced out of moves for other targets.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is no longer on their radars due to his £110m release clause, while Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres will likely prove too expensive as well.
Alternatively, Man United and Arsenal are supposedly preparing to battle for the services of Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who could be available for a more modest £34m but is also on AC Milan’s shortlist.
However, the Gunners could even abandon their search for a new number nine entirely and instead focus on bolstering their wide ranks, as Mikel Arteta already has Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus capable of playing up front.
Meanwhile, Chelsea had apparently put Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez on their wishlist amid uncertainty over his future, but the Argentine recently shot down talk of an exit from the Etihad Stadium.