Manchester United’s hunt for a new striker has taken a fresh twist as Arsenal have made advances to sign RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Seskso, according to a report from Germany.
Sport Bild (relayed by Sports Witness) reveals Arsenal have “reached an agreement” with Sesko over personal terms. The report further details the Gunners have “signalled” their intention to submit an official offer to Leipzig which “will not be below the Bundesliga club’s expectations.”
Leipzig are believed to be asking for a fee as high as €100 million for the Slovenia international, who scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga last season, though €80 million may be sufficient to seal a deal.
Sesko, 22, is a long-standing target at the Emirates as Mikel Arteta searches for a new centre-forward to help transform his side from pretends to contenders after three successive campaigns as league runner-ups.
However, at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim is facing a similar struggle, having demanded reinforcements in United’s forward line after the club’s worst season in the Premier League era.
A £62.5 million deal to capture Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers has already been agreed while negotiations continue with Brentford over a move for Bryan Mbeumo at a similar price point.
But the Portuguese coach also considers a new number nine an urgent priority after the dismal performances of the current shirt holder at Old Trafford, Rasmus Hojlund.
Sesko is a player United have been tracking long-term and came close to targeting last summer, only for the Slovenia international to agree a new deal to remain with Leipzig.
He remains one name on the list of strikers under consideration by the Reds this summer. But if Arsenal were to agree strike an agreement for the 22-year-old, it could prove a significant boost at Old Trafford, rather than a blow.
United reportedly consider Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres a “dream” target this summer with Amorim desperate to reunite with his former protégé in Manchester.
But Arsenal are leading the race to sign the Swede after receiving assurances from his representatives that he is prioritising a move to North London over the North West of England. However, there appears to be considerable debate at the Emirates over which forward is their first-choice target this summer – Sesko or Gyokeres.
The sense is Sesko was Arsenal’s priority heading into the summer window, but Leipzig’s demands were prohibiting a move, and Gyokeres has emerged as the alternative option, offering more experience and a better track-record of goals than the Slovenian.
But Sport Bild’s update indicates the Gunners are now ready to strike a deal with Leipzig after agreeing personal terms with Sesko. This would then rule out a move for Gyokeres, potentially reigniting United’s pursuit of the 27-year-old marksman.
A transfer merry-go round if ever The Peoples Person has ever seen one. But one which could end with a favourable spin in Amorim’s direction if Gyokeres becomes a Red Devil this summer.
Featured image Luciano Lima via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
