Arsenal’s ambitions to dominate English and European football have taken a thrilling turn, with the Gunners setting their sights on RB Leipzig’s towering striker Benjamin Šeško in a potential £80m transfer. The club’s hierarchy, led by manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar, believes the 22-year-old Slovenian sensation could be the key to elevating star winger Bukayo Saka to new heights, creating a dynamic partnership that could propel Arsenal to Premier League and Champions League glory. As the summer 2025 transfer window approaches, this blockbuster move signals the Gunners’ intent to build a squad capable of ending their 22-year wait for a league title.
Šeško, standing at 6’4” with a lethal blend of pace, power, and precision, has emerged as one of Europe’s most coveted forwards. His 18 goals and seven assists in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, coupled with five Champions League strikes, have showcased his ability to deliver in high-stakes moments. Arsenal see him as the ideal foil for Saka, whose 12 goals and 10 assists in the current Premier League campaign have cemented his status as the team’s talisman. “Šeško’s profile is perfect,” an Arsenal insider revealed, noting that his physicality and clinical finishing could alleviate the creative burden on Saka, allowing the 23-year-old England star to thrive in more advanced positions. Arteta, who has praised Saka’s versatility, reportedly believes Šeško’s presence would “take Bukayo to the next level” by providing a consistent goal-scoring threat.
The Gunners’ interest in Šeško comes amid a season of near misses. Sitting second in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Liverpool, Arsenal have relied heavily on Saka’s brilliance, with his 89 key passes and 48 successful dribbles leading the squad. However, the lack of a prolific No. 9 has been a glaring issue, with Gabriel Jesus managing only five league goals and Kai Havertz often deployed as a false nine. “We need a proper striker to compete with the best,” Arteta said earlier this season, a sentiment that has fueled the pursuit of Šeško. The Slovenian’s ability to hold up play, exploit spaces, and finish with both feet and head makes him a dream fit for Arteta’s high-pressing, possession-based system.
Šeško’s journey to stardom began at Red Bull Salzburg, where he scored 29 goals in 79 appearances before his £20m move to Leipzig in 2023. His £80m price tag reflects his meteoric rise, but Arsenal are prepared to meet Leipzig’s demands, especially after missing out on him in 2024 when Šeško signed a new contract with a £55m release clause. “I’m focused on my development, but I know what I’m capable of,” Šeško said in a recent interview, hinting at his readiness for a bigger stage. Arsenal’s financial muscle, bolstered by their Champions League quarterfinal run and a new £150m kit deal with Adidas, positions them to outmaneuver rivals like Chelsea and Manchester United, who have also scouted the striker.
The potential partnership between Šeško and Saka has fans buzzing on social media, with one X post declaring, “Saka feeding Šeško would be unstoppable!” Saka’s ability to create from the right flank, where he’s completed 32 crosses this season, aligns perfectly with Šeško’s aerial dominance, evidenced by his 12 headed goals since 2023. Arteta envisions Saka operating as a hybrid winger-playmaker, with Šeško’s runs opening up space for midfielders like Martin Ø