‘I rejected Man Utd for one reason - now I could join Arsenal in big-money deal’

Benjamin Sesko turned down Manchester United to motion for RB Leipzig for 1 circumstantial reason, with Arsenal present being progressively linked to the Slovenian striker

Arsenal transportation people Benjamin Sesko erstwhile snubbed rivals Manchester United.

The RB Leipzig striker, 21, has emerged arsenic the solution to Arsenal’s attacking woes this January transportation window. Mikel Arteta’s broadside are successful request of a objective out-and-out striker as they look to support gait with Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Kai Havertz’s poor form, arsenic good arsenic a semipermanent wounded to Gabriel Jesus, has accrued speculation successful caller weeks regarding the Gunners’ pursuit of Sesko, who was linked with a determination to the northbound Londoners past summer.

Arteta missed retired connected the Slovenian forward, however, arsenic helium opted to stay successful Germany for different twelvemonth and signed a caller woody with Leipzig until 2029. And a twelvemonth prior, erstwhile Sesko inactive played for sister nine Red Bull Salzburg, he rejected United in favour of the Bundesliga outfit.

Sesko explained astatine the clip that helium thought it was “better” to articulation Leipzig due to the fact that the benignant of play was a amended acceptable and 1 that helium was accustomed to astatine Salzburg. “It was precise important for maine to spell to a spot that plays a akin benignant of football. I already knew what I had to bash and didn’t person to spell done a full learning process again,” helium said.

Recognising his request for a striker up of the existent season, Arsenal brag Arteta showed involvement successful Sesko the pursuing twelvemonth successful 2024. But the youngster erstwhile again made a determination based connected what volition payment his vocation most, which was to enactment astatine Leipzig for different year.

His caller woody removed the £55million merchandise clause successful his erstwhile contract, portion immoderate reports claimed Sesko had negotiated a gentleman’s statement to fto him permission for £60m successful the summertime of 2025. Mirror Footballrevealed past May that Sesko favours a determination to the Gunners. Yet contempt their renewed involvement successful signing him, the Athletic assertion he's improbable to permission Germany this month.

The player's agent, Elvis Basanovic, was astatine a nonaccomplishment to explicate wherever caller rumours regarding a January indebtedness determination person travel from, with nary dialog taking spot with the northbound London outfit. He told GiveMeSport: “I don’t cognize wherever this communicative has travel from but I person ne'er talked with Arsenal astir a indebtedness determination for Sesko.”

He past unopen down the idea, adding: “Sesko is not a subordinate for loans and this was ne'er a taxable with Arsenal oregon immoderate different club. If you inquire maine if Sesko volition determination successful January, I tin lone accidental Sesko is simply a RB Leipzig subordinate and afloat focused connected that."

However, Basanovic was much coy astir whether Sesko tin extremity up successful northbound London successful the future, telling Slovenian TV transmission Arena Sport: "I deliberation you should inquire Mr. Arteta astir that. But I deliberation Sesko could suit galore clubs due to the fact that helium has antithetic shot skills. He tin play unsocial successful attack, with 2 strikers, a small further back, helium has height, speed, method speed."

He confirmed that a aboriginal determination volition lone beryllium weighed up if it suits the player's development, highlighting however overmuch Sesko has improved adjacent since signing a caller woody past summer. "We tin spot that our determination was correct, six months aboriginal helium is already a amended striker than helium was past season,” Basanovic said.

“What helium lacks is experience. We indispensable not hide that helium is lone 21 years old, truthful we did not privation him to spell to the Premier League successful the summer. There were factual options, but we consciously decided to enactment successful the Bundesliga to springiness him clip to advancement and make into a amended striker."

Asked what benignant of interest it would instrumentality for Leipzig to see a January sale, Sesko's typical was steadfast successful his response, adding: "I don't deliberation Leipzig would beryllium satisfied with immoderate compensation astatine the moment, Leipzig does not privation to merchantability Benjamin Sesko due to the fact that they truly worth him immensely."

It is understood that Arsenal volition look contention for Sesko’s signature from respective European clubs if they hold until the summertime to onshore him. Barcelona are said to beryllium interested, though their fiscal restrictions volition beryllium a hurdle.

The Gunners, meanwhile, whitethorn person to research different imaginable marketplace opportunities this transportation model based connected the aforementioned reports. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic are different names linked with the Premier League side, who way leaders Liverpool by six points having played a crippled more.

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