Benjamin Sesko's agent sends message to Arsenal and Man Utd over transfer

Benjamin Sesko is ready to join a 'special club' this summer but the Arsenal target will not attempt to force his way out of RB Leipzig.
The Gunners have made the Slovenia international and Sporting CP Star Viktor Gyokeres their top targets this summer as they seek to bring in a striker to lead Mikel Arteta's attack next season.
Deals for both players are being explored with reports in Portugal claiming Arsenal have already seen an offer of €60million plus €10m in add-ons rejected for Gyokeres.
Talks to bring Sesko to north London have been held but there has been no official bid for the 22-year-old, with Leipzig valuing him at between €80million and €100million.
Gyokeres' relationship with Sporting has turned toxic over the last 10 days with the Sweden international determined to leave the club by any means necessary.
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
The situation with Sesko is more serene by comparison with his agent Elvis Basanovic insisting there will be no attempts to engineer a move away from Leipzig.
Asked about rumours he is pressing Leipzig to lower their demands, Basanovic told Give Me Sport: 'This is far from truth! We respect RB Leipzig and I am 100% convinced RB Leipzig will also respect our decision for the next step when we decide to do it.
'Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig.
'I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.
'I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests but no matter what, I believe in football world should be more respect.
'So that's why we do things in the right way or we don't do them. It's very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.'
Basanovic even suggested Sesko could choose to remain in Germany if the right club does not come forward with the right offer this summer.
'Well, his numbers at his age compared to some strikers with already great careers at his age are confirming my words. He will move from RB Leipzig only when we recognise a special club, a special project with a special coach.'
Asked when a move could happen, he added: 'It can be next week… or next year, or in three years.' More Trending
Manchester United also have long-standing interest in Sesko with Ruben Amorim eager to sign a striker this summer.
Liam Delap rejected a move to Old Trafford to instead join Chelsea with Gyokeres' repreenatives also informing United he is not interested in a move.
It remains to be seen whether Sesko would consider the red half of Manchester given the lack of European football on offer next season.,
MORE: Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund told to reject £38m transfer and join rival Premier League club
MORE: Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly makes decision over Real Madrid transfer
MORE: Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk charged by FA for doping and faces four-year ban

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The National

an hour ago

• The National

Russell Martin provides Rangers transfer update

Rangers return for pre-season training on Monday, with Martin to meet his players for the first time. So far, Rangers have only announced the pre-contract signing of Lyall Cameron this summer. But Martin is keen to add to his squad. "[The aim is] to work them physically, tactically, to get them to understand what we are demanding very early on and what the team will look like," Martin said of pre-season aims. "And hopefully over the next couple of weeks, to add a few players to the group, and I think we're all expecting that. "I don't know [exact numbers], but I think we will have a few before the European game, that is for sure. Read more: "Everyone is working extremely hard, that's what the bulk of the work has been the last week or so, identifying character and talent we want in this building that can add to this group and add to us culturally and performance-wise. I am excited about the people we are starting to look at and will hopefully add." Martin is expecting Cyriel Dessers to be present at the Rangers Training Centre next week despite reports of a move to Greece in the summer window. The Ibrox boss said: "The updates will come as and when they're actually real. At the moment, I am expecting Cyriel to return on Monday and I am looking forward to working with him."

Metro

an hour ago

• Metro

Cole Palmer makes surprise admission as he explains shirt number change

Chelsea star Cole Palmer made a surprise revelation while explaining his decision to switch to the No.10 shirt. Following their opening win against Los Angeles FC, Chelsea continue their Club World Cup campaign on Friday night against Flamengo. The Premier League club take on the Brazilian giants, whose side includes former Chelsea and Arsenal star Jorginho, in Philadelphia at 7pm UK time. Ahead of the tournament, it was announced that Palmer would be switching his shirt number from 20 to 10, befitting of his status as arguably the team's best player. The No.10 shirt had been worn by Mykhailo Mudryk since January 2023, with the Ukraine international not given a replacement number amid his suspension for failing a doping test last year. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Since the announcement, Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association and could be banned from football for up to four years, with Enzo Maresca seemingly in the dark about his future at Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old, nicknamed 'Misha' by his teammates, has denied knowingly taking any banned substances, explaining in a statement last November he was in 'complete shock' having 'not done anything wrong'. It is usually customary for players to seek permission from each other if they wish to take their squad number, but Palmer has revealed that he has not been in contact with his exiled teammate. 'I have not spoken to Misha yet, but I will when the time is right,' the England international told reporters ahead of the Flamengo clash. 'It is not really my place to get involved with him at the minute. I will speak to him. On Wednesday, June 18, a Football Associaton spokesman said: 'We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of Regulations 3 and 4 of The FA's Anti-Doping Regulations. 'As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.' 'I wore No.10 all my life growing up and I just like the number. More Trending 'Lionel Messi the big one, Wayne Rooney and players like that – it's an iconic number.' Palmer will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of successful Chelsea No.10s like Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Joe Cole. Maresca also confirmed that he had no say in the matter, adding: 'Was I involved in this decision? No, no, I don't care about the numbers. 'It's a player matter. Is Cole good enough to wear the No10? Yes.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal consider shock transfer move for Chelsea star as Rodrygo alternative MORE: Club World Cup match suspended again with fans told to leave stands and 'get inside' MORE: Nico Williams agrees deal with next club after Arsenal and Chelsea interest

Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

Club World Cup descends into chaos as French and Brazilian fans brawl in the stands in California

Football fans were left stunned when fans of Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian side Botafogo were seen brawling in the stands during their Club World Cup match. The Champions League winners suffered a shock 1-0 defeat on Thursday, leaving their hopes of qualifying for the next round in the balance despite their 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid on matchday one. A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference between the reigning champions of Europe and South America at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. PSG were widely tipped as one of the hot favourites to win the new-look 32-team tournament after a stunning European campaign which culminated in their thumping 5-0 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League final last month. They also hadn't lost in any competition since May 3 and Luis Enrique took the opportunity to rotate his side in California. Notably, Goncalo Ramos started at centre forward ahead of Ousmane Dembele, who remains out injured. The gamble, though, didn't pay off. But a dark cloud was cast over Botafogo's victory when their fans were seen throwing punches in the stands in California - though it is unclear what caused the melee. In a 58-second-long video shared on social media, a person in a Botafogo shirt could be seen throwing punches before more members of the crowd became involved. Someone in a PSG shirt appeared to punch another supporter from behind, as a bundle of sorts ensued elsewhere in the stand, which had no individual seats - rather blocks of bench-like furniture. More people wearing shirts of the European champions then seemed to get involved, with one person in black appearing to cheer. There was a brief period of separation with no punches thrown in the two groups, before someone in a Botafogo strip approached a PSG fan and fell to the floor as more punches were thrown. The PSG supporter, who was wearing shorts and a bandana, was then ushered away by someone else wearing the same strip. That was until they were caught up in another scrap, which saw a Botafogo supporter throw a punch and the other fan then turn around to get involved with shouting heard in the background. A number of other supporters then piled in, many falling over in the stands, with one PSG fan appearing to stomp on a supporter. The footage ends with people running in to separate the brawl and a group trying to help one fan, who was laying in between rows, up. The last time a Champions League holders lost to a South American side came back in 2012, when Corinthians stunned Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. To avoid a red-faced elimination, PSG must beat MLS outfit Seattle Sounders, who have been knocked out of the tournament, in their last group match.