Arsenal agree personal terms with £70m forward | OneFootball

Arsenal agree personal terms with striker as €80m deal edges closer

Arsenal move closer to securing top target

Arsenal are making significant progress in their pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with personal terms now agreed between the club and the Slovenia international. As reported by Caught Offside, negotiations have entered an advanced phase, though the transfer fee remains the key sticking point.

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RB Leipzig have made clear their valuation of Sesko, setting his release clause at €80 million. While Arsenal are keen to complete the deal, they are hoping to negotiate a fee below that figure. Talks have taken place in London in recent days between Leipzig general manager Marcel Schafer and Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta.

There is growing confidence on all sides that an agreement will be reached. “Arsenal have reached an agreement on personal terms with Sesko,” Caught Offside confirms, while also noting that Mikel Arteta has identified the 22-year-old as his top striker target for the summer window.

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Arteta’s vision driving recruitment

Arteta’s preference for Sesko is well established. The manager has prioritised a striker capable of stretching defences with pace, holding up play and offering a consistent goal threat. While Sesko’s tally of 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig is solid rather than spectacular, his age and physical profile suggest untapped potential.

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The player’s future has also been shaped by Leipzig’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League, making a summer move increasingly likely.

Alternatives remain under consideration

While Arsenal remain focused on Sesko, Caught Offside reports that Viktor Gyokeres is still being monitored as a potential alternative. However, the emphasis remains firmly on Sesko, with the club hopeful of concluding negotiations in the coming weeks.

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No formal approach has yet been made by other clubs, which puts Arsenal in a strong position.

Forward planning remains key

Arsenal’s proactive approach in securing personal terms early signals clear intent. With no panic from their end, the expectation is that an agreement with Leipzig will be reached — perhaps not at the full €80m, but close enough to ensure the deal is completed before pre-season.

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This feels like a defining move in what could be a transformative summer for Arsenal. The club’s willingness to meet personal terms with Benjamin Sesko early and to conduct negotiations with clear strategy is precisely the kind of forward planning fans have long called for.

Sesko may not yet be a world-class name, but what he represents is equally important: potential, physicality, and a forward capable of evolving with this team. His blend of pace, strength and finishing ability feels tailor-made for Mikel Arteta’s attacking system, particularly when you factor in the creative weight behind him in midfield.

The price tag, of course, is hefty. But this is the market now. If Arsenal believe in the player, and Arteta clearly does, then closing this deal before pre-season becomes vital. It avoids the distractions of a drawn-out saga and allows for integration before the campaign begins.

Supporters will be watching closely, but optimism is justified. The club is acting with purpose, and if this is the summer that delivers a proper No.9, expectations for the new season will soar.