Latest news with #MatjazKek
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Benjamin Sesko: Arsenal handed massive transfer boost as striker target rules out possible destination
Arsenal have been handed a boost as Benjamin Sesko's preference is to stay in Europe this summer, despite interest from Saudi Arabia. Sesko is expected to be on the move during the upcoming transfer window after scoring 13 goals in the Bundesliga last 22-year-old is one of the striker targets Arsenal are considering and they have held talks with RB Leipzig. The German club are hoping to secure a fee in the region of £70million and are willing to part with their star striker after failing to qualify for the Champions League. Sesko has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia and it is understood that two clubs from there have made approaches over the past month. The striker's preference and priority, however, is to carry on playing in Europe if he leaves Leipzig this summer. Sesko's stance is a boost for Arsenal, if they choose to formalise their interest with an official bid, while it will also please the striker's manager at international level, Matjaz Kek. The Slovenia boss has encouraged Sesko not to go to Saudi Arabia if he leaves Leipzig this summer. 'At his age, he shouldn't go! If someone from there is interested, it's a form of recognition,' Kek is quoted as saying by Slovenian news outlet Nogomania. 'I don't underestimate them - I've worked there myself. But there will be time for challenges like that later. 'I believe Benjamin, and the people around him, are smart enough to find the right solution. He needs to play and enjoy football. That's when he's at his best. He must not just play - he has to play with joy.' Sesko scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga last season, while he also chipped in with five assists, too. Leipzig finished seventh in the Bundesliga - missing out on European football for next season - which has boosted Arsenal's chances of landing Sesko. He needs to play and enjoy football. That's when he's at his best. He must not just play - he has to play with joy Matjaz Kek The Gunners have looked at other striker targets, including Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres. Mikel Arteta has stressed the need for Arsenal to add more firepower to their squad this summer. 'Well, what we have, what is clear as well with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line, that we need a goal threat and we need the firepower out there,' he said in May. 'Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, you know, and we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before. 'And we have to add goals, we have to add creativity, we have to add numbers and that will be in different positions.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Manager fires Arsenal target Sesko warning as mega-money transfer offer received
Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek has addressed the future of Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko, who has received a number of eye-watering proposals from the Saudi Pro League in recent days Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek has warned Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko that he must swerve a mega-money switch to Saudi Arabia. In the past few days, the 22-year-old striker has attracted interest from two Saudi Pro League clubs, who are looking to pip the Gunners to a deal by offering an eye-watering salary that Mikel Arteta's side will be unable to match. However, thankfully for Arsenal, Sesko has already communicated via his representatives that his clear preference at this moment in time is to remain in Europe. Al Hilal have been working around the clock to land a striker before for the Club World Cup after being snubbed by Victor Osimhen and they've also courted Liverpool's Darwin Nunez and Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, another name of interest to Arsenal. Now Slovenia head coach Kek, who previously spent time in the Middle East managing Al-Ittihad, has weighed in on the saga by advising Sesko to snub the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia. He said after his side ran out 2-1 winners over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a friendly on Tuesday night: "I would advise him never to go there. At least not at his age. This is a great recognition, these are clubs that mean a lot. "It's not that I underestimate the Saudi league, on the contrary, I worked there at Ittihad and the club is still a part of me, I also watch the league regularly, but the time will come for that. "I am sure that Benjamin himself and the people who care for him will be smart enough and find a solution. That is, he goes somewhere where he can play football, because that is the only way he can be happy." Despite being called up to the Slovenia national team squad, Sesko did not play a single minute of action against Luxembourg or Bosnia as he has been nursing a knee issue over the past few weeks. Mirror Football recently reported that RB Leipzig had privately contacted the Slovenian FA to request that Sesko was left out of both games in the buildup to the fixtures. The Bundesliga side did not deem Sesko ready to play as he was unable to feature in an end-of-season friendly against Santos in Brazil and additionally, they have been fearful that injury could potentially scupper a summer transfer. Leipzig need to raise cash after missing out on European football and they're ready to offload both Sesko and Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons providing their valuations are met. Marcel Schafer, the director at Leipzig, has already held discussions with Arsenal chief Andrea Berta over a move and talks are now beginning to gather pace.
