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Sesko’s Rise Draws Premier League Interest Amid Leipzig’s €100m Stand

Market reshaped by mentality, not just goals

In an era of hyper-analysis and instant metrics, it’s rare to see a footballer’s mindset take centre stage in transfer discussions. But Benjamin Sesko, as reported by Sport Bild, is not your typical rising star. At just 21, the RB Leipzig striker is crafting his ascent with the precision of someone not only talented but supremely self-aware.

Photo: IMAGO

During a rare weekend off, Sesko was spotted reading Perfect Meditation by Deepak Chopra—part of a personal programme focused on mental fortitude. According to the report, he’s a regular with Leipzig’s mental coaches, trains monthly with a finishing expert, and uses advanced tools like the Soccer Bot—a 360-degree simulator to refine his decision-making.

There’s no doubting the outcome. “Sesko doesn’t even know how good he really is,” said interim coach Zsolt Löw. “If he keeps going like this, he’ll destroy the Bundesliga very soon.”

Leipzig’s €100m ambition signals intent

RB Leipzig are reportedly aiming to make Sesko the club’s most expensive ever sale. The current record stands at €90 million for Josko Gvardiol, who joined Manchester City in 2023.

Photo: IMAGO

But Leipzig want more. Despite removing his €70 million release clause during his contract extension last year, they’ve maintained a “gentleman’s agreement” with Sesko’s camp—he can leave, but the price is negotiable. And now, they’re pushing for a fee closer to €100 million.

This ambition speaks volumes not only about Leipzig’s negotiating power but about Sesko’s soaring stock. With 25 goal contributions already this season, compared to 20 in all of last year, the numbers support the price hike.

Premier League circle tightens

Interest across Europe is growing. Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, and AC Milan have all been monitoring the situation. But Manchester United appear to be in pole position, with sporting director Christopher Vivell watching Sesko in person during Leipzig’s 3-2 win at Wolfsburg. Vivell, who helped bring Sesko to Salzburg as a teenager and then to Leipzig in 2023, is reportedly keen on a third reunion—this time at Old Trafford.

“The striker is expected to be scoring goals at Old Trafford starting this summer,” Sport Bild reports.

Given the uncertainty surrounding United’s forward line, and Rasmus Højlund’s need for support, Sesko would add depth, mobility, and a long-term solution to the number nine role.

Photo: IMAGO

Mentality driving elite progression

What separates Sesko from many of his peers is not just physical presence or technical development, but an obsessive drive to improve his mind. His reading list includes Inner Excellence, the same book NFL star AJ Brown famously read during a game. He even wears colour-filtering glasses to aid cognitive recovery after training.

These habits may seem peripheral, but they underpin a broader truth: Sesko is consciously building a career, not just chasing form. And that, combined with consistent output in one of Europe’s toughest leagues, makes the €100 million valuation look less like a gamble and more like a calculated investment.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

If you’re an Arsenal or Manchester United fan, your first reaction to this report might be: €100 million for a player still cutting his teeth in the Bundesliga? Really?

From the outside, there’s a legitimate scepticism. Arsenal are in dire need of a striker. Does Sesko and his high price tag fit the bill? It’s hard to see Berta green-lighting a nine-figure move for someone who’s not yet at full potential or at least near it.

As for United, it feels like déjà vu. The allure of a physical, promising striker—one with ties to the club via Vivell—ticks boxes. But the club has been down this road before: potential over pedigree, hope over proven quality. After so many false dawns, would fans really trust the process again?

The worry is that Sesko becomes yet another expensive experiment, dropped into an unstable system without the support to thrive. Until United and Arsenal show consistent progress in squad building, these high-risk, high-fee targets will always split opinion.