Arsenal 'get green light' from Benjamin Sesko as Arteta crosses two strikers off shortlist

Benjamin Sesko would reportedly favour a move to Arsenal over Chelsea or Manchester United this summer. The three Premier League heavyweights are all believed to be keen on the RB Leipzig striker, who scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga this season.

Competition is heating up for Sesko’s signature ahead of Euro 2024, when the 6ft 5in forward could boost his stock even further. His country, Slovenia, face Denmark, Serbia and England in the group stages.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta may look to beat the rush by sewing up a deal for Sesko before the tournament gets underway. According to The Mirror, his hopes of doing just that have been given a major boost as the youngster has picked the Emirates Stadium as his preferred destination.

While Chelsea and United finished miles outside the Champions League spots in 2023/24, runners-up Arsenal can look to exploit their relative pulling power this summer. And swooping for £45million-rated Sesko would be an exciting way to start.

Despite his tender age, the forward has five seasons of first-team football under his belt. He came through at RB Salzburg, notching 29 goals in 79 appearances, before taking his goalscoring talents to Germany last summer.

Leipzig are reportedly prepared to sell, and Arsenal have seemingly put in plenty of legwork already as Sesko’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, was spotted more than once at the Emirates during the course of this season.

With the Gunners’ striker search narrowing, the same report states that Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak and Brentford talisman Ivan Toney are no longer under consideration in north London.

Isak was previously believed to be Arteta’s top choice to revitalise his front-line, but the Magpies are sure to drive a hard bargain and the Swede’s transfer fee may have run into nine figures off the back of a 21-goal campaign.

Toney, meanwhile, is seven years older than Sesko and ended the season with a 12-game goalless run. Arteta is understood to want a young striker prospect who he can interchange with Kai Havertz next term.

Sesko’s possible arrival would pave the way for Eddie Nketiah to leave the Gunners, who are reportedly considering moves for Ajax starlet Brian Brobbey and Brighton whiz kid Evan Ferguson in case their pursuit of the Slovenian falls flat.