Slovenia head coach Matjaz Kek has advised Benjamin Sesko to ignore interest from the Saudi Pro League and make a ‘smart’ decision over his future this summer.
Arsenal are on the hunt for a high-class centre-forward and have identified RB Leipzig attacker Sesko as a possible solution up front on the back of another trophyless season, along with Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.
RB Leipzig are open to offers for their star striker as they look to make up for the financial loss of missing out on Champions League qualification and the Bundesliga club have been in talks with the Gunners since last month.
It’s understood Manchester United have also held discussions over a move for Sesko following a disappointing campaign for both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Reports on Monday claimed Arsenal and RB Leipzig had hit a roadblock in their transfer negotiations, with the north Londoners told to cough up £70million or walk away from a deal for the 22-year-old Slovenia international.
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The news that Saudi outfit A-Hilal have joined the race for Sesko’s signature has only complicated matters for Arsenal, even though the playerhimself would ideally prefer to remain in European football.
A-Hilal are intent on making a marquee signing having appointed Simone Inzaghi their new manager last week – and have also explored bids for Victor Osimhen and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes this summer.
Facing the media after Slovenia’s 2-1 defeat of Bosnia and Herzegovina,Kek did his best to warn Sesko over a proposed move to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career.
‘Benjamin Sesko and Saudi Arabia? I would advise him to never go there, at least not at his age,’ the Slovenia boss told reporters.
While Kek enjoyed his brief spell managing Al-Ittihad, he is convinced Sesko should only have eyes for Europe’s top clubs.
On the interest Sesko has attracted from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, AC Milan and Juventus, Kek said: ‘This is a great recognition, these are clubs that mean a lot.
‘It’s not that I underestimate the Saudi Pro League. On the contrary, I worked there at Al-Ittihad and the club is still a part of me.
‘I also watch the league regularly… but the time will come for Benjamin Sesko for that.
‘I am convinced that Benjamin himself and the people who care for him will be smart enough to make the right solution.
‘That means going somewhere where he can play football because that is the only way he can be happy.’
Sesko was named in Slovenia’s squad for the side’s friendly matches against Luxembourg and Bosnia and Herzegovina this month.
However, the former Red Bull Salzburg man played no part in either clash to avoid the risk of injury, with transfer talks ongoing behind the scenes.
Sesko has scored 39 goals in 87 games for RB Leipzig and is tied into a contract at Red Bull Arena until June 2029.
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