Chelsea and Arsenal Poised for Another Transfer Battle as Blues Target RB Leipzig Striker

Chelsea have already completed an £88.5m transfer to assist Enzo Maresca in securing his second summer signing.

Chelsea and Arsenal may once again be competing for a major transfer target.

Football fans often chant, “It’s happened again, it’s happened again,” when they consistently triumph over a rival or when their rival fails to secure something significant.

This summer, Chelsea fans might be directing this chant towards Arsenal supporters over a specific transfer.

Benjamin Sesko appears poised for a move to the Premier League after an impressive season with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, where he scored 18 goals and provided two assists in 42 appearances. This performance nearly equates to a goal involvement in every other game.

Despite scoring 91 goals in the league this season—second only to champions Manchester City’s 96—Arsenal is seeking a new striker.

Their goals were distributed across the team, with Bukayo Saka leading with 16, followed by Kai Havertz with 13, and Leandro Trossard close behind. A dedicated striker is rare and costly, but Sesko, with his minimal assists, seems to fit the bill for Arsenal’s needs.

Arsenal has been heavily linked with a move for Sesko, who has a £55 million release clause valid until the end of June.

Afterward, RB Leipzig could demand a higher fee for the 21-year-old. Mikel Arteta aims to finalize deals early this summer, but Sesko’s participation in Euro 2024 might delay any transfer. If Sesko performs well in the Euros, Leipzig is likely to increase their asking price.

Chelsea has recently emerged as a contender to sign Sesko, also needing to bolster their attack. New head coach Enzo Maresca is eager to bring in new talent, though the club’s owners will have the final say on signings.

Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to be Maresca’s first signing, having already completed a medical, with Sesko potentially being the second.

Chelsea has a recent history of outmanoeuvring their London rivals in the transfer market. In January last year, the Blues secured an £88.5 million deal for Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, despite widespread reports suggesting he would join Arsenal.

While Mudryk has struggled to make an impact at Chelsea, the precedent is set, and Arsenal might once again find themselves outbid by Chelsea in the transfer market.