Arsenal and Chelsea are set to battle it out for Europe’s next big prospect in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
At just 21 years old and with comparisons to Manchester City star Erling Haaland, Sesko is catching the eye of some big clubs.
The forward bagged 14 goals and laid on two assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances for RB Leipzig last season.
With a lack of top centre-forward options in world football, every team is looking to land the next big name, leading the Slovenian international onto the radar of many clubs.
Arsenal are one of those clubs showing transfer interest in Sesko this summer, with the Gunners looking to close the gap on Man City to win the Premier League.
The North London outfit aren’t alone in their interest though, with rivals Chelsea also reported to be in the race for Sesko this summer.
A release clause in the region of £55million could allow for a swift move to the Emirates Stadium, though the club may still try to drive a hard bargain.
Benjamin Sesko on Premier League transfer
With plenty of interest surrounding a move for Sesko, it remains to be seen whether the striker will make that switch to the Premier League.
For some, staying away from the spotlight cast by the English top division is the best-case scenario, allowing for further development under less scrutiny.
At just 21 years old, there may be plenty of time to make a move to England, something that Sesko has hinted he would be interested in.
Speaking in October 2023, the striker told the Guardian: “It’s hard to say what will happen. I could be great or not that great.
“Of course, it would be nice to play there [the Premier League], but first of all let’s focus on right now and we will see what happens later.”
It isn’t an outright refusal from Sesko, though it may take some convincing to ensure that the path to London Colney is the right one.
Is Benjamin Sesko the “next Erling Haaland”?
There’s no mistaking the impact that Haaland has made on the Premier League since joining Man City in 2022.
The striker has taken his electric form from Borussia Dortmund and continued with it, despite questions over whether he could adapt to the division.
Two Golden Boot awards and 63 goals scored in two league campaigns have been the difference for City in their Premier League title hunts.
For Arsenal to close the gap and even surpass Pep Guardiola’s side, the need to match those goals is of a top priority.
Sesko has always been touted as the “next Haaland”, having a similar frame and skillset to the Norwegian bagsman.
The comparisons don’t stop there, with an impressive stint in Austria with RB Salzburg then translating to a good first Bundesliga season.
Benjamin Sesko and Erling Haaland’s first Bundesliga season compared
While Sesko is at an earlier stage of his development, a move for him could finally see Arsenal end their striker hunt.
“It was interesting to look at him because he’s the same height and some movements are the same,” Sesko said to the Guardian on Haaland.
“At this point, you think ‘I want to be like him’ but when you start to play a little bit you want to be yourself. But it’s really good to have learned from him and in some ways, it has helped me a lot.”