Chelsea and Arsenal learn new asking price for Benjamin Sesko ahead of potential summer transfer tussle: Reports

Chelsea and Arsenal have allegedly been told about RB Leipzig attacker Benjamin Sesko's new price tag ahead of the summer transfer window.

Sesko, 22, has established himself as a highly coveted star since leaving Red Bull Salzburg for an initial sum of £20 million in the summer of 2023. The towering forward has scored 39 goals in 5,243 minutes of action for Leipzig, spread across 85 total matches.

According to Sky Germany, Sesko has a performance-based exit clause in his current deak. As a result, he is currently valued at over £68 million. However, the Arsenal and Chelsea-linked star could also be sold without a team activating his release clause.

If Sesko's exit clause is not triggered, Leipzig would ask for an initial fee of £64 million for the Chelsea target's services. The Bundesliga outfit would also want £13 million as add-ons to finalise a potential deal.

While Sesko would act as a squad option behind Kai Havertz should the Slovenian join the Gunners, he could emerge as a starter at Chelsea. He would likely displace Nicolas Jackson from Enzo Maresca's starting XI.

Arsenal told to avoid signing ex-Chelsea star

During an interaction on Sky Sports, Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher was queried if the Gunners should sign Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer. He replied (h/t Metro):

"I do think they lack someone of that ilk in terms of creativity. People keep talking about Arsenal needing a goalscorer, no, they need someone to create chances for a goalscorer. I think his wage demands have to come into it and the fact that Manchester City are letting him go is because the wages he is on."

Carragher, who helped Liverpool lift 11 trophies as a player, concluded:

"They can't have someone on those kind of wages who is not going to play every week. Over the last couple of years as you look at his injury record, as he is getting older, that is probably going to continue. Arsenal would have to look at his injury record over the last two years and that would probably put them off. But they definitely need someone of that ilk."

De Bruyne, who suffered a hamstring injury past September, has started 24 of his 36 total appearances for City this campaign. He has scored six goals and provided eight assists for his current side so far this term.

The former Chelsea and VfL Wolfsburg midfielder has recorded 72 goals and an impressive 121 assists in 285 Premier League appearances so far.