Football
Exclusive: Benjamin Sesko Transfer Battle Heats Up as Newcastle and Chelsea Enter the Frame
Newcastle and Chelsea are looking to beat Arsenal in the race to sign Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko. The RB Leipzig star is attracting interest from top clubs across Europe, but the Premier League duo are ready to battle for his signature this summer. Leipzig are willing to sell for a substantial profit, with Sesko keen on a move to England.
RB Leipzig v FC Bayern München - Bundesliga by Maja Hitij | Getty Images
Newcastle United and Chelsea both want to sign Slovenian international hitman Benjamin Sesko, SportsBoom can reveal.
Arsenal are understood to want the highly-coveted RB Leipzig marksman in a deal worth £50million, but they are now expected to face a real battle to secure his signature this summer.
SportsBoom understands the Magpies and Blues are looking at muscling in on any potential deal Premier League rivals the Gunners have planned.
Sesko has been a revelation for Leipzig this season having bagged an impressive 39 goals in 87 appearances for the club.
But the former RB Salzburg striker would love the chance to play in the Premier League – and for one of England’s ‘big’ clubs.
Arsenal are also believed to be keen to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres as their first-choice striker, so Newcastle and Chelsea believe they have a hand in the game to try and tempt Sesko to another move away from the Emirates Stadium.
SUBSTANTIAL PROFIT
Bundesliga outfit Leipzig are understood to be ready to sell and cash in on their star player, especially having only paid £20million for the player in August 2022.
The 22-year-old’s contract doesn’t expire until 30 June 2029 having signed a lucrative five-year extension on 12 June last year.
But that gives Leipzig a bigger chance of landing a substantial fee for the striker who has long been admired by a string of Premier League clubs and top clubs across Europe.
AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli have all been linked with the player, but SportsBoom understands England is his preferred destination.
And the 41-cap Slovenian international, who has represented his country for the past five years, is ready to make the next step in his burgeoning career.
Sesko is understood to have held initial discussions with the Gunners but is happy to look at all offers presented to him.
The former Slovenian Footballer of the Year won a trio of Austrian Bundesliga crowns, as well as the Austrian Cup with Salzburg, as well as the DFL Supercup with Leipzig.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.