THERE is a growing sense of fear and anxiety at the Red Bull Arena around the future of Benjamin Sesko.
RB Leipzig are in desperate need to sell players to rebuild their squad after missing out on Champions League football last season.
In previous years, they have sold big and recruited wisely, earning the tag as one of the best self-sustaining clubs in Europe.
Last summer, they raked in around £85m from Dani Olmo and Mohamed Sinakan.
The year before, a whopping total of around £188m for Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai and Josko Gvardiol.
And in 2021, they managed to convince Bayern Munich to fork out a record-breaking £21m to lure manager Julian Nagelsmann away.
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Leipzig need to cut their wage bill by at least 20 per cent to balance the books, and need funds to provide a competitive group of players for new manager Ole Werner.
They had hoped that winger Xavi Simons – who they signed for a club record £70m including add-ons in January before asking to leave this summer – could generate a good return, but his recent form has not turned heads.
In this window then, Leipzig have accepted that Sesko, 22, will be the man to fill up their kitty.
The issue is that Arsenal have still not made a bid – and that is seriously worrying the German club.
SunSport understands that, as it stands, negotiations over a fee that both clubs are happy to shake hands on are at a stalemate.
And there are no signs of progressing, despite Arsenal and boss Mikel Arteta’s well-documented admiration of the young Slovenian.
They have also already agreed on personal terms with the player.
Arsenal consider around £60m a fair price.
Leipzig would prefer upwards of £70m, but the Gunners are ready to dig their heels in and hold out, playing hardball for their man.
Arsenal know that Leipzig are getting desperate, in a weak negotiating position financially, and they are confident they represent Sesko’s best chance of a move this summer with other suitors, for now, looking elsewhere for a No.9.
Sesko’s agent Elvis Basanovic has so far been reluctant to pressure Leipzig into a sale.
There are frustrations that the “gentleman’s agreement” the the striker could leave for £60m is in danger of being broken.
But Sesko’s entourage know relations need to be kept sweet should his player stay in Germany, and has been keeping a lower profile than usual.
Inside Arsenal’s frustrating striker transfer saga
By Jordan Davies
ARSENAL’S never-ending hunt for a world-class striker is in turmoil as deals for Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres stall.
The Gunners were confident of doing their business quickly this summer after months of preparation by boss Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta.
But inflated asking prices and broken gentlemen’s agreements have derailed those plans and left Arsenal frustrated.
Sesko believed he would be allowed to leave RB Leipzig for around £60million, while SunSport understands Gyokeres was told £59m would be enough to seal his own exit.
But those price-tags have gone up, leaving Arsenal debating whether they represent value for money.
While the players’ camps are also growing restless, knowing the Gunners can only sign one of them.
So what next? Will Arsenal keep waiting in the hope of fees eventually going down? Or turn to other targets, like Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike?
Whatever they decide, with pre-season looming and the fixtures already out, Arteta will be desperate for them to move quickly to avoid another nearly season.
The hope for Arsenal is that, in the coming weeks, Leipzig lose patience and lower their asking price, in need of the funds as soon as possible to get their own deals over the line.
But SunSport understands they have still not yet highlighted a preferred Sesko replacement.
There is, however, a growing unrest within the Leipzig fanbase which could also force the club’s hand in negotiations.
There are concerns Sesko will not react well to not getting his move, especially given their absence from the Champions League.
Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta will not wait around forever though.
The ideally want a striker through the door before their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong on July 19.
And they have maintained an interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike should the Sesko move collapse.
In short, it looks a mess from the outside, but Arsenal remain calm over their approach.
HEINZE STRAIGHT IN
FORMER Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze will join Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff at Arsenal.
The Argentine will fill in after the recent departure of assistant Carlos Cuesta, who became Parma’s new head coach.
And SunSport understands that Heinze is set to get straight to work by joining the squad on their warm-weather trip to Spain next week ahead of their pre-season two-week tour of Asia from July 19.
Arteta is keen to integrate Heinze, 47, with the players quickly to develop lasting relationships, as well as helping his new man get to grips with the demands of supporting a Premier League squad.
Argentine coach Heinze has spent most of his managerial career in his home nation, as well as a short stint in the MLS with Atlanta United.
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