Benjamin Sesko, frequently compared to Erling Haaland and an admirer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is undoubtedly a player who excites many Arsenal supporters.
The promising Slovenian forward from RB Leipzig is reportedly close to completing a transfer to the Emirates Stadium, with the clubs currently in discussions over the fee.
However, is he genuinely the answer to Arsenal`s long-standing search for a leading striker, and are they truly getting the next Erling Haaland?
His colleagues at Leipzig certainly believe so, and the 22-year-old Sesko hasn`t tried to downplay the comparisons himself.
Speaking with a confidence reminiscent of his Swedish hero Ibrahimovic, he stated:
Such comparisons motivate me and give me energy. They do not represent pressure, I will listen and learn, so I can be even better than Haaland is. My team-mates tell me that Haaland and I are very similar, especially in terms of speed. Most of them even tell me that I`m better than him.
So, what can Arsenal fans anticipate if the transfer is completed? Here is a detailed look at the Bundesliga star who could be heading to England.
How it Began
By the age of 18, Sesko had already played for four different clubs and five different teams. He initially started as a centre-back, and his father, Ales, a goalkeeper, wanted him to play in goal.
But his son found that role “boring” and instead focused on analyzing videos of Zlatan as he pursued a career as a forward.
At 14, he netted an astonishing 59 goals in just 23 games for Krsko`s Under-15 side. By 16, he had signed for Red Bull Salzburg, just two months before Erling Haaland also joined the Austrian club.
Manchester United had shown interest in signing the teenage Sesko for Old Trafford but declined to pay the £3m asking price, allowing Salzburg to step in.
Current Progress
Things have gone exceptionally well for Sesko, aside from one minor setback at Salzburg when he openly expressed his frustration at not being the first-choice striker – something he admits “didn`t go down well.”
He explained: “All of a sudden, I wasn`t even on the bench, I was watching from the stands – it was the worst moment.”
Since then, his career has consistently moved forward, setting records along the way.
Sesko became Slovenia`s youngest ever player the day after his 18th birthday, and four months later, he became his nation`s youngest goalscorer.
He moved to Leipzig in 2023 and has impressed in the Bundesliga, most notably by scoring in seven consecutive matches towards the end of his first season.
Key Attributes
He possesses a truly powerful shot. Sesko can unleash formidable efforts with his right foot – one goal from 25 yards against Werder Bremen in January was clocked at nearly 80mph, and this isn`t a rare occurrence.
He enjoys taking shots from distance, and while sometimes ambitious, his shot accuracy last season was impressive at 62 per cent, only slightly behind Haaland.
Sesko has quick feet, explosive acceleration, and good dribbling ability. He can receive the ball, turn sharply, and accelerate past defenders before they can react.
Furthermore, his athleticism is evident. Standing at 6ft 5in, he is a strong player who holds the ball up effectively and presents a difficult challenge for opponents.
Similar to Haaland?
Physically, yes, although Haaland is actually an inch shorter. However, while Manchester City`s Norwegian forward is primarily a classic, powerful centre-forward, Sesko has a slightly different profile.
Haaland is a pure goal predator who last season averaged only 23 touches per game, compared to Sesko`s 34 touches for Leipzig, indicating he drops deeper more often.
This deeper positioning allows Sesko to contribute assists; he provided five last season and has the vision to pick out a pass.
But if you want a direct comparison between the two, you must look at their goal tallies, and this is where Sesko does not match Haaland.
Both players featured for Salzburg, but Haaland scored 17 goals in 16 league appearances, compared to Sesko`s 21 goals in 55 games.
In the Bundesliga, they played for clubs with comparable ambitions, but again, Sesko`s record of 27 goals in 64 league appearances for Leipzig doesn`t stack up against Haaland`s remarkable 62 goals in 67 Dortmund games.
Potential Concerns
Presumably, Arsenal have some reservations, as they have reportedly been attempting to lower the price from initial figures between £70m and £60m.
Sesko signed a new contract until 2029 last year, but Leipzig`s failure to qualify for European competition next season has caused embarrassment and put pressure on the club to sell players.
Despite Leipzig`s weakest campaign in eight years, Sesko did score 13 Bundesliga goals and 21 across all competitions, maintaining his status as one of the club`s most valuable assets alongside Xavi Simons.
He is still somewhat raw and occasionally lacks composure. He also benefits from playing alongside a dedicated second striker, such as Leipzig`s 5ft 10in Lois Openda, which is not the formation Arsenal typically uses.
Therefore, he will need to adapt to the Gunners` tactical setup, though you would expect Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to provide similar service to what he received from Dani Olmo during his first season at Leipzig.
Is He the Right Fit for Arsenal?
The Gunners require a prolific goalscorer, not someone who scores inconsistently. This is a point of debate in Germany.
He certainly scores spectacular goals, but that doesn`t automatically make him a consistently great goalscorer… yet.
Sesko`s Bundesliga record of 27 goals in 64 appearances for Leipzig is quite similar to Kai Havertz`s 29 goals in 64 league games during his final two seasons for Leverkusen. Havertz wasn`t playing as a central striker then, and Arsenal fans wouldn`t describe him as prolific in that period.
Perhaps more concerning for Arsenal fans, Timo Werner, another former Leipzig striker, bagged 44 league goals in the same number of games before moving to Chelsea in 2020.
Sesko is capable of hitting a hot streak. In addition to his seven-game scoring run, he has also managed to score in five consecutive matches.
However, he has also experienced an eight-game goal drought and took five matches to find the net last season.
Should Arsenal Look Elsewhere?
There`s no doubt Sesko has higher long-term potential than Viktor Gyokeres, and at 22, he is five years younger than the Sporting Lisbon striker.
And while Hugo Ekitike outscored him in the Bundesliga last season, Sesko is considered a more natural number nine.
There are many appealing aspects to his game, and he has demonstrated his ability to perform against top opposition, including scoring three goals in four Bundesliga games against Bayern Munich – a good benchmark.
He also scored against Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, though notably drew blanks against Liverpool and Aston Villa.
If Arsenal can reduce the transfer fee towards the £60m mark, it might sway their decision. After all, with Sesko, every little helps.
