Arsenal are now ‘watching’ £43m sensation who could be ideal Ivan Toney alternative

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal have been linked with several strikers ahead of the summer transfer window, with it clear that Mikel Arteta wants to add more firepower to his squad.

Gabriel Jesus has been criticised for his output this season, and all signs point towards Arsenal signing a new striker at the end of the season.

Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen have been heavily linked, but both players would cost a significant fee, whilst there are question marks over Toney’s attitude and Osimhen’s adaptability to the Premier League.

It now appears that Arsenal have their eyes on a different forward, as RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is on their radar.

Arsenal are monitoring Benjamin Sesko

Bundesliga expert Christian Falk has now told CaughtOffside that Arsenal, as well as AC Milan, are interested in 20-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko.

“Benjamin Sesko (20) came in the summer for €24m to Leipzig. AC Milan is currently offering €40m,” he stated.

“Arsenal are also watching the attacker. He has an exit clause of €50m (contract until 2028).”

€50m converts to just under £43m, and this is a significantly lower fee than Osimhen’s release clause of around £112m, and Toney’s reported asking price of £100m.

What would Benjamin Sesko bring to Arsenal?

Although he is relatively young, Sesko could be an excellent option upfront as an alternative to Jesus in the squad.

Jesus excels outside of the box, but has admitted he has room to improve when it comes to his finishing.

The 20-year-old has scored four times in just six Bundesliga starts this season, and overall has eight goals in 25 games for Leipzig.

This comes from a productive spell at RB Salzburg, where he scored 29 and assisted 11 in 79 games, mostly as a teenager.

At 1.95m tall, he offers great physicality and aerial threat inside the box, but this does not detract from his mobility, and he hits his shots with great power.

He is someone who can play instead of or alongside Jesus, and has the potential to develop into a complete forward at a bargain price, and would also represent a much better long-term investment than a big-money move for Toney, given his age.

Whilst it would be something of a gamble, his release clause means that Arsenal could even sign Sesko as well as another attacker, and they could potentially spend less than £90m on the Slovenia International as well as winger Nico Williams, and have change to spare compared to a potential deal for Toney or Osimhen.