Mikel Arteta has been fired a clear warning as Arsenal now face competition in the chase for one of their transfer targets.
Arsenal will now have to fend off Chelsea in the race to secure one striker’s signature.
Like the Gunners, the Blues are also keen to land the services of Benjamin Sesko this summer. RB Leipzig will be hoping that this rival interest in the 21-year-old leads to a bidding war that forces both sides to meet the player’s £55 million release clause. At that stage, it will be the forward’s decision to make between the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal have already made one bid for Sesko, worth around £47 million. It seems that the North London club will likely now have to push the boat out further in order to get a deal over the line.
It is no secret that Mikel Arteta is keen to add a new striker to his ranks. Rumours linking Arsenal with Victor Osimhen have also reemerged, but Sesko would be the more affordable option, and there is certainly a lot to like about the Slovenian.
Arsenal sent Chelsea warning over Benjamin Sesko
However, when it comes to signing Sesko, time may well be of the essence. Journalist Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, has now warned the Gunners that the race for Sesko is very much on.
He said: “This is potentially the first big transfer tussle of the summer when it comes to the Premier League as Arsenal and Chelsea have eyes on him and need to move fast if they are going to get him.
“The player is open to a move to England and I’m told that there are reasons on both sides of things that interest him in joining.”
Why Arsenal and Benjamin Sesko could be perfect for each other
The appeal of joining Arsenal at this time is obvious. Arteta’s project offers Champions League football, the chance to compete in a Premier League title race, and the opportunity for Sesko to establish himself as the Gunners’ first choice striker. Whilst Kai Havertz has impressed in that role of late, and will almost certainly start the new season at the top of the pecking order, Sesko would still back himself to eventually pull ahead of the German.
If the RB Leipzig man truly is the Gunners’ top target, then sporting director Edu needs to be decisive and act fast, before Chelsea are able to strike a deal of their own.
Sesko would be an exciting addition to the Arsenal squad. The 6’5” attacker offers a similar profile to Havertz. Like the 24-year-old, he is dominant in the air, technically gifted and able to hold the ball up and bring others into play, and offers intelligent movement. He would therefore be able to slot in seamlessly in North London.