Latest news with #BenjaminSesko
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal negotiations stall as Benjamin Sesko's agent makes transfer comment
Benjamin Sesko remains top of Arsenal's transfer agenda as the Gunners look to strengthen Mikel Arteta's options up front and Nico Williams has moved closer to a move from Athletic Bilbao Arsenal are set for a busy summer in the transfer market as they look to finally strengthen their forward line. Mikel Arteta has been desperate for a striker to aid his team's bid to win a trophy. The north London side have been linked to deals for Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres in the coming weeks, but are also looking to strengthen elsewhere in the squad. Martin Zubimendi is set to arrive in midfield, while there is also a desire to land a winger and defender. Sporting director Andrea Berta has already tied down Gabriel Magalhaes to a new deal. There are ambitions to secure the futures of Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly too. Meanwhile, Jorginho has already departed the Gunners and Kieran Tierney's exit has been confirmed. But there is more work to do for Arsenal. Mirror Football takes a look at the latest transfer news and rumours from around the Emirates. Sesko's agent speaks out Benjamin Sesko's agent Elvis Basanovic has denied putting pressure on RB Leipzig to lower their asking price for the striker. Arsenal are understood to have agreed personal terms with Sesko but the Bundesliga side still want a significant fee - thought to be north of £60million. Basanovic rejected any notion that he would attempt to force Leipzig's hand. 'This is far from truth!" he told Givemesport. "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." He added: "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." Williams nears transfer Spain star Nico Williams has agreed on a six-year contract with Barcelona, according to reports. The Athletic Bilbao winger looks set to depart this summer and has drawn interest from Bayern Munich and Arsenal in addition to the Catalan club. Barca are said to have offered a salary in the region €7m-8m (£6m-7m) but have not yet agreed a deal with their La Liga rivals. Williams has a release clause in the region of £50m but the Spanish champions have not agreed a financial package with Bilbao. Partey negotiations Thomas Partey looks set to leave Arsenal when his contract expires at the end of the month. The midfielder was in negotiations over extending his stay at the club but talks are now at a standstill, per ESPN. The former Atletico Madrid ace has drawn interest from Turkey and been linked with a move to Barcelona. Partey, 32, has played for Arsenal 167 times since joining the club in October 2020. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
How did Gyokeres and Sesko compare last season?
Arsenal have identified Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres as the striker they want to lead the line next season, BBC Sport's Alex Howell reported this week– but how do they compare?Aged 27, Gyokeres is already in his prime and scored 39 goals in 33 league appearances as Sporting were crowned champions in 2024-25 – three times as many as Sesko netted in the same amount of games for RB was a goal machine last term, outperforming his expected goals by more than eight and scoring with 28.1% of his efforts. The Swede, who benefits from playing for a dominant side in a league not quite as strong as the Bundesliga, had a mammoth 327 touches in the opposition box and adopted a shoot-on-sight policy, registering 139 efforts on goal, equivalent to one every 20 22, had to be more patient as Leipzig ended seventh, missing out on European qualification. He had a shot every 35 minutes, while his tally of 68 attempts overall ranked him only 16th in the Bundesliga. However, in both of his seasons with the club he has shown early signs of being an elite finisher. He overperformed his expected goals total by 6.3 in 2023-24 and by 3.1 in the most recent campaign, in which he converted a healthy 19.1% of his area where the Slovenia forward has an edge is in the air. Standing close to 6ft 5in tall, Sesko contested far more aerial duels last season than 6ft 2in Gyokeres and won 57.4% of them. Despite his big frame, he is surprisingly quick, recording a top speed of 35.7 km/h in the season just gone, placing him among a handful of the Bundesliga's quickest attacking players. That unusual combination gives him a high ceiling and explains why Leipzig reportedly want €100m (£85.5m) for their prize asset.
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Benjamin Sesko's agent clarifies price tag haggling rumours over Arsenal switch
Benjamin Sesko's agent, Elivis Basanovic, says rumours that RB Leipzig are being pressured lower their asking price for the forward are 'rubbish'. Basanovic made clear that the German club and Sesko have a respectable relationship and are both aware of the other's priorities. Those, of course, being: Sesko's desire to move to Arsenal and Leipzig wanting to negotiate the best price for him. Leipzig are open to letting Sesko leave and the forward has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Gunners but Basanovic sought to 'clarify' matters and stressed he will honour Leipzig's price tag of a reported €80-100m (£68-86m). The Daily Star report that he said stories claiming he is haggling down Sesko's price tag with the Bundesliga side are 'far from truth' and that Leipzig will respect Sesko's decision to leave. "We respect RB Leipzig and I am 100 per cent convinced RB Leipzig will also respect our decision for the next step when we decide to do it,' Basanovic said. "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.' He went on to call for 'more respect' during transfer sagas, adding: "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." Arsenal hope to bring in a prolific striker this summer to help them with their quest to win the Premier League title after they fell short to Liverpool in 2024/25. Viktor Gyokeres is also on there list but Sesko is their No.1 priority having scored 21 goals across all competitions for Leipzig last season including 13 in the Bundesliga.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Benjamin Sesko's agent insists he will NOT 'blackmail' RB Leipzig over summer transfer as he breaks silence on Arsenal 'stumbling block'
Benjamin Sesko's agent has claimed that his client will only leave RB Leipzig this summer for a 'special club and project' and insisted he will not 'blackmail' the side over a move. The 22-year-old has been a long-time Gunners target, with the club having had offers rejected in May last year and the most recent January transfer window. Arsenal are keen to bolster their attacking options having finished second in the Premier League for a third-straight season. Sesko is their priority signing but however, according to German reporter Florian Plettenberg no bid has yet been submitted - and that is down to one key reason. Leipzig value Sesko between £68million and £85m - figures the north London outfit are reportedly unwilling to reach. Amid this apparent stand-off, his agent Elvis Basanovic has insisted that they will not force a move away from the German club and said it was take a 'special' proposal to prise him from the Red Bull Arena. '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,' he told GiveMeSport. '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.' Earlier this week, reports in Germany claimed that the striker is yet to agree personal terms with the Gunners who are succession planning and continuing to monitor the situation with Sporting's wantaway striker Viktor Gyokeres. Basanovic would not be drawn on a timeline of events for his client, though he did reject the claim that they had requested Leipzig accept a lower fee this summer. Basanovic instead said that Sesko could leave Leipzig 'next week, or next year or in three years'. '[Sesko's] numbers at his age compared to some strikers with already great careers at his age are confirming my words,' added Basanovic. 'He will move from RB Leipzig only when we recognise a special club, a special project with a special coach.' Leipzig only finished seventh in the Bundesliga in 2024-25 and will not be able to offer their star striker Champions League football next season, while the Gunners will be playing in Europe's elite club competition. The in-demand 22-year-old Slovenian has already rejected a move to Saudi side Al-Hilal, such is his preference to join Arsenal.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Benjamin Sesko's agent moves to 'clarify a few things' amid Arsenal 'agreement'
Slovenia and RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is one of the most in-demand strikers this summer and his agent has spoken about the future of the Arsenal-linked frontman Benjamin Sesko's agent Elvis Basanovic has denied putting any pressure on RB Leipzig to lower their asking price for the striker. Sesko is understood to have agreed personal terms with Premier League side Arsenal, but the Gunners still have work to do. Leipzig are prepared to sell Sesko after missing out on Champions League qualification, but only if they receive a hefty fee - thought to be north of £60million. Basanovic believes all will become clear in due course, but moved to "clarify" the situation and insisted he wouldn't push for a lower fee out of respect for the Bundesliga side. 'This is far from truth!" he told Givemesport when asked about rumours of leaning on Leipzig over their asking price "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." He addedL "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." Sesko scored 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last season, with 13 of those coming in the Bundesliga. That was enough for him to finish the season as his team's top scorer, but a late-season collapse saw their European hopes go up in smoke. With five games to go, Leipzig sat in the fourth and final Champions League qualification place. They won none of those last five, though, and that saw them miss out on European qualification altogether. Sesko was linked with an Arsenal switch in the summer of 2024 as well, only to instead sign a new contract at his current club. That deal runs until 2029, though he could yet leave sooner. "We have a team with great potential and a balanced mix of young and experienced players. I'm really looking forward to taking the next steps with this team," Sesko said when his extension was confirmed. "We've already achieved a lot in my first season and often shown the amount of quality and outstanding football we can bring to the pitch. But there's still a lot more to be done and that's now our common goal." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
