Football
Slovenian Leipzig star on his way to England? A new contract is also on the table. Arsenal or Chelsea?
Arsenal and Chelsea are missing a proper goalscorer. It’s perhaps one of the reasons why neither London team has claimed any trophies this season. But Benjamin Shesko could solve this problem and maybe also bring trophies to the English capital after a long time. Will he transfer this summer?
Arsenal and Chelsea are missing a proper goalscorer. It’s perhaps one of the reasons why neither London team has claimed any trophies this season. But Benjamin Shesko could solve this problem and maybe also bring trophies to the English capital after a long time. Will he transfer this summer?
Arsenal and Chelsea are troubled by the absence of a cannonballer
Arsenal have been looking for a proper striker for years, who is capable of scoring more than 20 goals a season. The last time Aubameyang did that was in the 2018/19 season, when he scored 22 goals and became one of the top three scorers in the Premier League that season.
Since then, though, they’ve struggled to find a proper striker. They tried with Gabriel Jesus but he hasn’t lived up to expectations after his €52 million transfer from Manchester City, Kai Havertz has scored 13 goals this season and added 7 assists but Mikel Arteta sees him more as a midfielder. It has often been the case over the last two seasons that Arsenal have wasted big chances. That’s also why the last two years the Gunners have finished second and trophyless.
Chelsea, though, have the talented Nicolas Jackson at the spearhead striker position, whom they signed only a year ago.
Jackson scored a solid 14 goals in his first season in the Premier League, but often failed to convert big chances, which is also confirmed by the statistics of missed big chances in the Premier League, where he ranked 3rd with 24 missed chances. On top of that, he has been involved in the game from an offside position 28 times.
Chelsea are not afraid to pay big money for young players, which is why Benjamin Šeško could be headed to Chelsea.
Shesko’s breakthrough season
After last season, when he scored 16 goals in 30 league games for Salzburg in Austria, he earned a transfer to Leipzig for €24 million. Before the Bundesliga’s winter break, he was not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up, often coming on in the second half and scoring just 3 goals. But after the winter break he came alive and scored 11 goals in 17 games.
Especially at the end of the season, he scored a goal in each of the last 7 games. Former coaches compare him to Erling Haaland, which is certainly not far from the truth. Both came through Salzburg and then made their way to the German Bundesliga, they are both nearly 2 metres tall, at home in the opposition’s penalty area and both can develop incredible speed.
To stay or to go?
The Slovenian 21-year-old marksman also has an offer on the table for a new and more financially lucrative contract from Leipzig, who of course want to keep him. The big problem for the Saxon outfit is his exit clause of €65 million, which is somehow not big these days. Chelsea are ready to pay it, Arsenal are testing a €55 million offer. For both teams, he might finally be the right goalscorer who can shoot trophies.
Salary-wise, he would definitely be better off in London, as more money is spent in the Premier League than in the Bundesliga. Apparently, Šeško should make his decision before the European Championship starts on June 14.
Source: Transfermarkt, X, Premier League