Arsenal, Chelsea & Man Utd learn surprise Benjamin Sesko asking price | OneFootball

RB Leipzig are looking to earn close to €100m (£85.7m) through the sale of striker Benjamin Sesko, a report has claimed, amid suggestions of a release clause in his contract said to be wide of the mark.

Sesko has already been heavily linked with a switch to England ahead of next season. Most of the headlines have revolved around Arsenal and Chelsea, but Manchester United are also known admirers of the Slovenia international.

There appears to be significant confusion revolving around Sesko's price tag. It was reported in March that his contract includes a release clause which begins at €70m (£60m) but could rise up to €80m (£68.6m) depending on his performances.

However, SPORT BILD now deny such claims, insisting that there is no formal contract clause and instead just an agreement with Sesko's camp to let him join a top side this summer. The fee, however, is not set.

It is said that Leipzig are expecting a huge fee for Sesko and believe he could cost close to €100m this summer.

Sesko didn't score agaisnt Wolfsburg / Stuart Franklin/GettyImages

Arsenal and Chelsea are predominantly linked with Sesko but United may be set to ramp up their interest as director Christopher Vivell was spotted in the stands during the recent 3-2 win over Wolfsburg.

Vivell has long established a relationship with Sesko, first recruiting him for Red Bull Salzburg as a 16-year-old and then overseeing a switch with the Red Bull family to Leipzig. The latter deal was pre-agreed in 2022, a few months before Vivell traded the Bundesliga for England to become technical director at Chelsea.

The end of the campaign is going to bring a scramble for strikers.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are all looking to recruit up front ahead of next season, each trying to find the option that best combines proven ability, long-term potential and immediate affordability.

The latter criteria has seen possible suitors warned off Alexander Isak. But Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Hugo Ekitike and Liam Delap are all likely to be on the market for varying prices.

Ekitike initially emerged on transfer radars as a cheaper alternative to Isak, but Eintracht Frankfurt are thought to have raised the price to €100m. It is indicative of financial health at the Bundesliga side, who sold Omar Marmoush in January, as a return to the Champions League beckons. Delap will be the cheapest, but most raw, of the options when a £30m relegation clause soon kicks in.