Arsenal are ready to step up their interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Cesko after losing Gabriel Jesus to injury until the end of the season, according to reports.
Jesus suffered a torn ACL during Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round defeat to Manchester United, ending a promising recent run of form that saw the Brazilian score seven goals in all competitions.
Gunners were extensively associated with Šeška in the past – 90 min previously published on interest as early as April 2024 – and they were somewhat disturbed by the Slovenian’s decision to sign a new contract with Leipzig last summer.
However, there was ‘gentleman’s agreement’ set in terms of a future transfer, allowing Sesko to proceed with a move to a bigger club if terms are acceptable to Leipzig.
The Times report that Arsenal’s deadline for a potential bid for Cesko has been pushed back due to Jesus’ injury, and it is now clear to manager Mikel Arteta that he cannot rely on Kai Havertz alone for goals.
Arteta has been rocked in recent weeks by an injury to star Bukaya Saka, which has left him numb Arsenalcreativity and taking chances, and an English national team player no return is expected from a hamstring problem for a few weeks.
Sesk’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, has ruled out a loan move to Arsenal, meaning the Gunners will have to pay a significant fee if they are to get a deal over the line in January.
Leipzig manager Marco Rose also dismissed talk of a January exit, telling German media: “That’s not the case, that’s not a topic for us.”
The 21-year-old Sesko has scored eight goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances this season, adding five more in the domestic cup and Champions League competition to take his tally for the season to 13 – one more than Havertz managed for Arsenal.
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