Arsenal ready to break seven-year transfer rule for Benjamin Sesko after £60m done deal…

Arsenal set to break a seven-year transfer policy for Benjamin Sesko following a £60m deal.

Arsenal set to break a seven-year transfer policy for Benjamin Sesko following a £60m deal.

Arsenal has shown interest in RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and is adopting a new strategy in the transfer market as Mikel Arteta aims to address his team’s attacking issues.

Since Mikel Arteta became the manager of the Gunners, the club has followed a particular method in their transfer activities.

Targeting RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko would mark a significant shift from Arsenal’s typical approach, as they seek to acquire a player from the Bundesliga for the first time since 2018.

While the Gunners have signed players from various parts of Europe and even the Brazilian market in recent years, the Premier League has consistently been their favored source.

From Aaron Ramsdale to Ben White, Arsenal has frequently opted for players with a background in English football.

This is because players proven in the Premier League are a reliable choice and are more likely to thrive if they are already excelling in the top tier.

Forecasting the success of players transitioning between countries and league styles is a more complex endeavor.

There is a prevailing belief that those coming from La Liga will adapt well. In contrast, Arsenal has mainly focused on defenders from Serie A. Ligue 1 is abundant with young talent, and South America offers a similar wealth of promising players.

Nevertheless, Arsenal has opted to avoid signing players from Germany.

The Arsenal squad features a mix of academy graduates and a solid Premier League foundation – White and Declan Rice have improved their performances, while Kai Havertz has integrated smoothly.

Even Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus executed their roles effectively for 12 to 18 months after their transfers from Manchester City.

Recent additions to the league include Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, both hailing from Madrid, alongside the center-back duo of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, who joined from French clubs.

Additionally, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu made a name for themselves in Serie A before their transfers to north London.

However, Arsenal has not acquired a first-team player from the Bundesliga since 2018. A potential signing of Sesko could alter this trend.

Arsenal previously missed out on securing the striker months ago prior to the Euros, and his value has only increased since then.

The last players to arrive at the club from Germany were Bernd Leno and Sokratis, who joined seven summers ago, but the pursuit of Sesko resembles Arsenal’s £60 million acquisition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earlier that same year.

Aubameyang was a successful signing, having already made a name for himself at the highest level, unlike Sesko.

He scored 13, 16, 25, and then 31 Bundesliga goals over his four full seasons at Borussia Dortmund before leaving with a remarkable record of 13 goals in 16 appearances.

Aubameyang also boasted a strong Champions League record and was significantly older than Sesko, being in his mid-20s.

In contrast, Sesko is still quite young compared to Aubameyang. There is a strong desire to harness his untapped potential before it fully develops, but this strategy comes with its own set of challenges.

Now at 22, Sesko has had another remarkable scoring season in Germany, demonstrating precisely why he has garnered interest from various clubs.

Nevertheless, there are apprehensions regarding how Sesko will adapt to the English game.

As the striker could play a crucial role in Arsenal’s title aspirations, several factors must be taken into account.

Given the mixed success of players transitioning from Germany to England, it is reasonable to approach this situation with caution.

A prime example is Havertz’s transfer to Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. Initially, he faced challenges as opposition players and even his own manager sought to find the ideal position for him on the field.

Havertz ultimately adapted to the position of a striker. Arsenal had aspirations of transitioning him back into an attacking No.8 from midfield, but he has instead been required to take on responsibilities up front, a role he now executes effectively.

He has gained muscle, sacrificed some of his flair, and at times, functions as a reliable target man. He is formidable in aerial duels but lacks the finesse he originally possessed.

Sesko likely wouldn’t need to undergo such a significant transformation since he is already a striker, though he will experience a period of adjustment.

Both Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig and faced challenges in finding their form for various reasons.

Dominik Szoboszlai has fared better at Liverpool, although he operates in a more withdrawn position.

Arsenal appears resolute in their pursuit of achieving something they haven’t accomplished in seven years by trying to acquire Sesko from the Bundesliga.

Prior to Aubameyang’s signing, Arsenal’s last acquisitions from Germany were Lukas Podolski in 2012 and Per Mertesacker the previous year.

Arsenal has a unique connection with Bundesliga players, but they are hopeful that Sesko can reignite the spark.