Details of the offer made by Arsenal to sign an international forward have now emerged as Mikel Arteta’s striker search gathers pace.
Arsenal are seeking to secure the services of Benjamin Sesko.
It is no secret that the Gunners are on the hunt for a new striker. Arsenal have been linked with a plethora of goalscorers for some time, but now look to have made a formal move to sign Sesko.
The 21-year-old just enjoyed a fine season with RB Leipzig, scoring 18 goals in 42 appearances, across all competitions.
The Slovenian forward has only had one season with the German outfit since making a switch from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, but the Gunners are already keen to bring him to North London.
How much have Arsenal bid for Benjamin Sesko?
To that end, according to Football Transfers, Arsenal have now made a bid of around £47 million to sign Sesko. However, the Bundesliga club are likely to demand that Arsenal trigger Sesko’s €65 million release clause in full, which is roughly equivalent to £55 million.
In the meantime, Sesko is thought to be keen on the idea of joining Arsenal.
Even if the Gunners do have to pay the player’s full release clause this summer, in the context of the modern transfer market, Sesko would still reflect something of a bargain if he can kick on and fulfil his huge potential at the Emirates Stadium.
For the kind of figure being mooted, there likely wouldn’t be enormous pressure on the 28-cap Slovenia international to be utterly prolific from the off, either.
Why Benjamin Sesko is the perfect back up for Kai Havertz at Arsenal
With Kai Havertz having impressed as a striker in the second half of the season, Sesko could come in and offer cover and competition for that role whilst he settles into the club.
In many ways, Sesko is the ideal understudy for Havertz, as the pair share plenty of similar attributes. Like the former Chelsea man, Sesko is an imposing physical presence at the top of the pitch. He is aerially dominant and can hold the ball up and bring his teammates into play, making him an excellent focal point. He is also technically gifted, provides pace, and offers intelligent movement. Sesko has been described as a “machine” in the past.
This means that Sesko would suit the tactical setup that has been established at Arsenal with Havertz up front, meaning either player ought to be able to slot in and lead the line seamlessly. This will appeal to Mikel Arteta, who will be wanting to see his side play with greater cohesion and familiarity in the final third from the off next season, as those things took some time to emerge last time around.