Benjamin Sesko will sign a new contract with RB Leipzig, meaning Arsenal will not sign their first-choice attacking target this summer — but there is no sense of despondency at the club.
In recent years, Arsenal have reacted well to such setbacks, revising their strategy or pivoting to alternative options.
Here, The Athletic outlines Sesko’s decision, how Arsenal have responded, and what comes next.
What happened with Sesko?
By the time the window opened, Arsenal felt they had done enough to establish themselves as Sesko’s preferred destination — if he were to leave Leipzig.
But that view was shared by other English clubs competing for his signature. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United had all expressed interest in the Slovenia international.
While Arsenal, through sporting director Edu, believed they had made a compelling proposition to Sesko, they were always aware there was a good chance the striker would choose to renew with Leipzig.
Sesko is 21 and his career has been carefully managed. Playing time is invaluable at this point in his development. By remaining with Leipzig — the announcement of a new contract is expected to come today (Wednesday) — Sesko will continue to grow in a familiar environment.
Sesko finished the season strongly for RB Leipzig, scoring in seven successive Bundesliga games (via Getty Images)
He will sign a one-year extension, thus removing the €65million (£54.8m, $70m) release clause in his contract.
Sesko’s salary will receive an uplift too — although it will still fall some way short of the sums offered by Premier League teams.
He has a great relationship with the staff at Leipzig and the wider Red Bull group. There is not expected to be another release clause in the new contract. Instead, there is a mutual understanding that when the right project arrives for Sesko, he will be permitted to leave for a fair price.
How have Arsenal reacted to the news?
Arsenal are not too perturbed by Sesko’s decision to stay in Germany. They knew it was a strong possibility. In some respects, the timing of his eventual departure may work better for them in the long term.
The form of Kai Havertz in the second half of last season made the acquisition of a new centre-forward less urgent. The possibility of signing Sesko, however, was an excellent market opportunity: the chance to land a long-term target at an affordable price before his value explodes.
Arsenal have a stable squad, with several existing options in the centre-forward position, so there is no sense of panic. With Sesko off the table, it’s not certain they will immediately pivot to an alternative No 9. Arsenal had followed Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon, but that interest appeared to cool as they focused on Sesko. Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna has been linked, but Arsenal do not intend to pursue the 23-year-old Dutchman.
It may be that Arsenal shift their focus to strengthening other areas of the squad.
Zirkzee scored 11 league goals last season, helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League (Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images)
Will they come back in for Sesko?
That could be an option that suits Arsenal. Waiting 12 months would allow them to clarify the futures of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, as well as give them more time to determine the efficacy of using Havertz as a centre-forward.
Arsenal have built a strong relationship with Sesko’s camp over several years so, theoretically, they would be well-positioned to reignite their interest next summer.
There’s an acceptance, however, that the landscape could shift dramatically in the next year. Manchester United and Chelsea could be at very different stages of their project, and thus be more attractive destinations. With no formal release clause, it’s also possible a good season could lead to Sesko’s price skyrocketing. There is no guarantee Arsenal will still be the clear choice in 12 months.
What next for Arsenal?
The club are expected to shift to strengthening their midfield. They need a player to complement Declan Rice, and now potentially have greater resources to allocate to that search.
The Athletic has reported their interest in Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad and Joao Neves of Benfica. Arsenal are also open to adding a more attack-minded midfield player. Although, in a difficult market, it’s not yet clear who their primary targets would be.
Arsenal also need to make some headway with player sales. The club were disappointed with what they managed to recoup during last summer’s window. They are trying to sell a similar same set of players but offers for Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga are unlikely to surpass what was proposed last year.
It leaves Arsenal in an awkward position. If they accept a low fee for a player early in the summer, or sanction a loan, it sets a bar for other interested clubs.
Ideally, Arsenal would like to start their outgoings with a strong sale for a good fee — but that will be determined by the level of interest in the market.
(Top photo: Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
