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Fabrizio Romano confirms Saudi hijack of expected Arsenal signing
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 10 Jun 2025 06:40 BST
- 5 min read
News
Saudi Arabian clubs are trying to hijack Benjamin Sesko's move to Arsenal.
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who reports that Saudi Pro League clubs have approached Sesko in recent hours with important proposals.
Current ETV
Benjamin Šeško
F (C)
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Šeško
F (C)
RB Leipzig
ETV Range
€60.2M - €73.6M
Romano adds that Sesko's priority is to join a European club, with talks expected to follow with Arsenal this week.
However, the attempted hijack of Arsenal's move from Saudi Arabia will be a concern to the Gunners.
Sesko to Arsenal or Saudi Arabia?
Romano reported less than 48 hours ago that the Gunners have opened official talks for the 22-year-old striker, who will certainly leave Leipzig this summer.
“I can confirm that last week Arsenal had the first concrete real official talks with Red Bull for Benjamin Sesko,” Romano said on his YouTube channel on Sunday.
"Arsenal spoke to RB Leipzig, they had talks with the agent of the player. Arsenal have started to understand the whole situation around Sesko; contract terms, the value of the player which will be less than his €100 million clause.
"Still nothing is agreed as of today but what we can say is that there is a contact ongoing with Arsenal and he is a strong candidate for Arsenal.
"Arsenal are really, really keen for Sesko, who they wanted a year ago and who they tried to sign in January.
"Sesko will leave Leipzig this summer, this is the clear plan of the player and the club."
Arsenal have made the signing of a top class striker their number one priority for the summer transfer window and have been linked to other big names such as Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and new Chelsea signing Liam Delap.
But things are now heating up with regards to Sesko, who was a target for Arsenal a year ago before he signed a new contract at Leipizg.
Arsenal will need to accelerate talks this week now that Saudi Pro League clubs have entered the race.
Sesko, who is also of interest to other Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Man Utd, was Arsenal’s number one attacking target during the last summer transfer window.
Arsenal had been in negotiations for several weeks with Leipzig and Sesko, and believed that a deal was all but done - with only some formalities to complete before the striker would agree on personal terms.
Sesko had made it clear in negotiations that he wanted to join Arsenal over other interested clubs such as AC Milan.
And meetings with Sesko’s entourage had all pointed to the striker joining Arsenal.
It then came as a huge shock when it was revealed at the start of June 2024 that Sesko would be staying at Leipzig, and he subsequently signed a new contract with the club.
He will now leave a year later, with Arsenal the favourites to sign him.
Sesko scored an impressive 21 goals in 45 games in all competitions this past season.
Sesko scored 18 goals in 42 games for his club in 2024-25 and went to Euro 2024 with Slovenia.
He has 16 goals in 41 games for Slovenia.
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