Benjamin Sesko latest: Arsenal "ramping up" transfer talks with RB Leipzig in "crucial week" for Andrea Berta

Arsenal are "ramping up" talks to come to an agreement over a blockbuster deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, and there is "universal belief" in North London that he can blossom into a world-class centre-forward, according to Charles Watts.

For weeks, Gooners have been waiting to learn whether their side will pursue a summer move for the Slovenia international or Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, and the club appear to have settled on Sesko as their number one pick.

The former Red Bull Salzburg talent was momentarily linked with a switch to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal before the first transfer deadline, but a deal unsurprisingly failed to materialise ahead of the Club World Cup.

The Saudi door is not believed to be completely closed, but speaking to Sports Mole, Watts questioned whether Al-Hilal's supposed interest was more of a 'get on with it' message to Arsenal, who are facing a "crucial week" in negotiations.

“My hunch is that it gets done, but it's impossible to say with absolute certainty," Watts said. "Saudi Arabia - I'd be absolutely stunned. I know money talks and can sway anyone's thinking, but there's been a lot of planning put into Sesko’s development and I'd be shocked if they ripped that all up now at the age of 22.

“But I do wonder if that's a very convenient kick up the backside, either engineered by Leipzig or even Sesko's people, because it is beginning to drag a little bit. There is movement for the first time since the end of the season; there's a very clear direction in terms of where they're heading, but I would never say it's definitely going to happen.

“There's still a little bit of question mark and from what I'm hearing, this is going to be a crucial week. Talks are very much ramping up now to try and come to an agreement. Leipzig, as they have every right to do are trying to get the best possible deal they can, and I'd be surprised if we get to the end this week and we haven't clear movement in terms of how this one's panning out.”

Watts: 'Universal belief at Arsenal that Sesko will be a superstar'

Sesko was believed to have been on Arsenal's radar last summer too, but the 22-year-old opted against joining the Premier League runners-up in favour of penning a contract extension with his current club.

However, Sesko's new deal included an affordable release clause, reportedly set at around £75m thanks to performance-related achievements in 2024-25, and Leipzig are expected to hold out for the maximum fee.

With Arsenal now putting all their eggs into the Slovenian's basket, Manchester United are ostensibly leading the race for Gyokeres and are said to have made initial contact with the Sweden international's camp over the weekend.

Asked what the main factors were that saw Arsenal pursue Sesko over Gyokeres, Watts added: “They’ve just put an awful lot of work into it. They clearly believe he has got the tools to become an absolute superstar. That's why they wanted him last summer, why they were willing to wait, why they've seemingly decided this summer again he is the guy to go for.

“When Berta came in, I'm sure there are other things discussed like we talked about with Gyokeres - a striker he's looked at in the past - but it doesn't surprise me that it's Sesko who seems to be the pick. There is pretty much universal belief for Arsenal that he is going to be you know a very top striker, they've just been happy to bide their time and now hopefully this is the summer they get it done.

“They’ve looked around at other target, none of them have really dislodged Sesko as the number one choice. Well I say that, but if Alexander Isak was available then I think we all know who the number one choice would have been!”

Before pivoting to Sesko, Newcastle United's Isak was long admired by Arteta, but the Magpies have flat out refused to consider bids for Gyokeres's international teammate and have no need to thanks to their qualification for the Champions League.

Will Arsenal regret leaving the Gyokeres race?

However, Gyokeres trumped both Isak and Sesko on the goals front last year, netting an astounding 54 in 52 games, while the Newcastle man bagged 27 in 42 appearances and Sesko struck 21 times in 45 matches.

Watts had previously revealed that his "big fear" if Arsenal went for Gyokeres would be an Isak-type situation with Sesko, where another club picks up the 22-year-old and he quickly becomes one of the most prolific strikers on the planet.

While the Arsenal expert would have only just sided with the Sporting man over Sesko, he accepts that the latter is the more sensible acquisition and has no similar concerns over missing out on Gyokeres.

“Gyokeres could easily go to United, score a bucket load of goals, and then you can sense what's going to come every single time one scores and the other doesn't - this social media pecking order type thing. But if Arsenal choose Sesko, it's a sensible signing," he concluded.

“I probably would have just about sided with Gyokeres, but Sesko is clearly the most sensible signing of the two, so the fact that they've done that shows they haven't been influenced by the outside noise, they've stuck to their guns and it’s what you want your club to do.

“They're going for the player that they really really want and they believe in rather than taking the more short short-term option. We as fans can want that a bit more, but as club you've got to be able to block that out and go with what you actually really believe in, what you've worked on and how you've analysed everyone.”

Sesko is likely to be one of at least four Arsenal signings this summer, including £5m Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, whose imminent arrival "ticks so many boxes" at the Emirates.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on Arsenal's interest in Sesko

Written by
Ben Knapton