BREAKING: Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal, HERE WE GO! Arsenal and Leipzig reach agreement of £59m fixed with £5m add ons. Andrea Berta, key in this deal. {via @FabricioRomano}

Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal transfer takes huge twist after major announcement

Arsenal transfer target Benjamin Sesko will not play for Slovenia against Luxembourg on Friday night

Benjamin Sesko applauds during a football game

Benjamin Sesko will not play for Slovenia against Luxembourg

Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from Slovenia’s upcoming match against Luxembourg due to injury, amidst intensifying interest from Arsenal. The 22-year-old has been a standout performer for RB Leipzig since joining the German outfit in 2023.

Despite Leipzig’s challenging season, which saw them miss out on European competition, Sesko managed to net 21 goals and provide six assists across all competitions. Prior to his Bundesliga stint, he led Red Bull Salzburg to three consecutive Austrian championships.

Arsenal want to strengthen their frontline this summer and Sesko is among the players they are tracking, football.london understands. The Gunners also appreciate Viktor Gyokeres, however, and meetings have been held internally about the pair ahead of a crucial 2025/26 season for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Before players can go off on their holidays, though, there is an international break to navigate. Sesko was named in Slovenia’s squad for their fixtures against Luxembourg and Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports the Mirror, with the first friendly scheduled for Friday in Luxembourg City. However, according to Sportklub, Sesko will not be part of the travelling squad.

Sesko has been forced to withdraw from the friendly match due to an injury sustained towards the end of Leipzig’s campaign. Sesko did link up with his national team at the start of the international break but has been unable to train.

The striker remains in Slovenia and there is hope he could yet feature against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Celje on Tuesday. Providing an update, Slovenia boss Matjaž Kek said: “This means an opportunity for someone else. It calls for us to try to find some solution. There are quite a few new names who have also made a good impression through our league, but now we have to put everything together into a mosaic that, I hope, will be good.

“I am sure that everyone will give their best. You don’t get into the national team with one good move and you don’t get out of it because of one bad move. Here are the guys who earned it over a certain period of time.”

It is not expected that Sesko’s injury issue will affect his potential departure from Leipzig. While the striker has four years remaining on his contract with the German club, it’s believed he has a £67.5million release clause in that contract.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is leading transfer negotiations for the Gunners this summer and the Italian seems intent on giving Arteta the tools to challenge on all four fronts next season. As well as a new striker, football.london understands the club want to sign a back-up goalkeeper, defender, central midfielder and possibly a wide forward