Arsenal learn the truth about Benjamin Sesko’s release clause and expected transfer fee

Arsenal should have signed a top-class striker last summer, and with every grand performance by Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, a section of the fanbase grows increasingly frustrated while watching the Gunners throw away their best chance at winning the Premier League title.

But in fairness to Arsenal, they did try to sign a great young striker this past summer in Benjamin Sesko, but he ultimately decided to stay with RB Leipzig for another season.

Part of that reason is because Arsenal didn’t do nearly enough to convince Sesko to sign despite the massive need for a fox in the box with a towering presence who can score 20 goals in a season; they wouldn’t even grant him more playing time than Kai Havertz, who is not even a real striker.

Arsenal will need to get serious about signing a top striker who can own the position for the next decade, and they truly have to make it their No. 1 priority in the coming transfer windows.

Benjamin Sesko will remain at or near the top of their wishlist alongside Gyokeres, and the choice between the two of them could ultimately come down to the final cost.

According to a report from Sky Sports Germany’s Philipp Hinze, the previously reported 90 million euro release clause for the RB Leipzig star striker cannot be confirmed.

Instead, there is no valid release clause for Sesko as there was last summer for 65 million euros, but, instead, Leipzig have agreed to a handshake deal with the 21-year-old to sell him for an offer slightly more than that.

Hinze says Leipzig would be willing to sell the 14-goal forward in summer 2025 for an offer of around 70-75 million euros, which would make Sesko slightly more expensive than Gyokeres.

Although Gyokers is outperforming Sesko this season, Sesko can argue he’s in a more difficult league in the Bundesliga. But Gyokeres could counter by stating that he is putting up big numbers in the Champions League – and that Sesko is being outperformed by his own striker partner, Lois Openda.

At the end of the day, Arsenal can’t go wrong with signing either one of these strikers. Sesko is a handful of years younger, Gyokeres is slightly cheaper, and both are excellent.

The only wrong answer for Arsenal would be to do what they did last summer and go another window without signing a single forward. At 70-75 million euros, Sesko is worth the fee for his quality at age 21.