Interested suitors in highly sought-after striker Benjamin Sesko have received a boost in their pursuit of the RB Leipzig star, according to a report.
Following a successful stint in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg, Sesko has since elevated his game to new heights in Germany with Leipzig, where he has found the net 39 goals in 85 appearances since joining the club in 2023.
The 21-year-old scored 18 goals in 42 appearances during his debut campaign with Die Roten Bullen when he initially had to settle for a rotation role, making an impact off the substitutes' bench on several occasions.
This term, Sesko has started 39 of his 43 games for Leipzig across all tournaments, netting 13 times in the Bundesliga and four goals in both the Champions League and DFB-Pokal.
Sesko is under contract at the Red Bull Arena until June 2029, but the 6ft 4in Slovenia international has been tipped to leave Leipzig and join a bigger club this summer amid reported interest from a number of Premier League teams.
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Arsenal, Man Utd among clubs battling for Sesko signature
Arsenal allegedly tried and failed to sign Sesko in 2024, but Mikel Arteta's side are understood to still hold a strong interest in the striker who is regarded as one of the club's priority targets this summer.
Seako is also believed to be on the radar of Manchester United and their sporting director Christopher Vivell is said to have a close relationship with the youngster, as it was he who helped facilitate his transfers to Salzburg and then Leipzig.
Premier League champions Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in Sesko, although the latter are understood to have 'little chance' of winning the race for his signature.
Serie A giants AC Milan are another European team said to keen to lure Sesko away from Leipzig, but it is thought that the striker would favour a move to the Premier League over joining an Italian outfit at this stage.
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Leipzig will entertain 'suitable' offers for Sesko despite increasing release clause
It has previously been reported by Sky Deutschland that Sesko had a release clause worth €60m (£51m), but journalist Florian Plettenberg now claims that it has increased to a figure in excess of €80m (£68m) based on performance-related criteria and 'flexibility within the contract'.
Nevertheless, Plettenberg adds that a transfer is also possible without triggering the clause as Sesko will be allowed to leave Leipzig if a suitable offer comes in, providing interested suitors with a boost ahead of the summer.
Sesko briefly addressed his situation at Leipzig on Tuesday, admitting that his future is "open" and a decision will be made once the current campaign comes to a close.
"Right now, I'm 100% focused on RB Leipzig," Sesko told Sky Deutschland. "Then we'll see what happens. It's open, anything can happen."
Sesko is one of a plethora of centre-forward based in Europe who has been linked with a big-money exit along with the likes of Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, Napoli's Victor Osimhen - on loan at Galatasaray - Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike and Lille's Jonathan David, who will soon become a free agent.
Oliver Thomas
