Arsenal are reportedly lining up an approach for RB Leipzig and Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko.
The 20-year-old garnered a reputation as one of Europe's most promising marksmen during his time with Red Bull Salzburg, who poached him from NK Domzale in the summer of 2019.
While plying his trade in Austria as a teenager, Sesko came up with 29 goals and 11 assists in 79 games for Salzburg, winning three Austrian Bundesliga titles and earning plentiful Champions League experience along the way.
The Slovenia international - who stands at 6ft 4in tall - was traded to another Red Bull-owned outfit in Leipzig for the summer of 2023, and he has hit the ground running in Germany with six goals from his opening 13 games.
Sesko also has a respectable nine goals and five assists to show from 24 appearances in a Slovenia shirt, and he was named his national team's Player of the Year in 2022 as his stock continued to rise.
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Leipzig have the 2003-born striker under contract until the summer of 2028, but their resolve could be put to the test next summer, and The Mirror claims that Arsenal are weighing up a move.
The Gunners have reportedly sent scouts to keep their eye on Sesko, who was on Manchester United's wishlist last year but rebuffed the Red Devils to commit his future to RB Leipzig.
Despite his long-running contract, Leipzig - who have established a reputation as a selling club - could supposedly let Sesko leave for just £40m next year and use the money to reinvest in other young talent.
Arsenal may have to beat away competition from AC Milan to add Sesko to their ranks next year, but the Gunners are allegedly optimistic of pipping their Italian counterparts - who did discuss a summer deal - to the 20-year-old's signature.
A separate report from 90min claims that Leipzig could even sanction Sesko's departure as early as January, and their stance has also put Manchester United and Newcastle United on red alert.
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A number of top European teams have apparently been made aware by intermediaries that Sesko could be on the market over the winter, and he would likely be inundated with mid-season offers.
Arsenal have a vacant spot in their attacking ranks following the departure of Folarin Balogun, who joined Monaco in the summer after an exceptional loan spell with Reims last season.
Balogun's exit has left Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah to battle for the centre-forward spot, but injury woes have arisen for the former once again, as he is set to spend a few weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
In Jesus's absence, Nketiah scored a hat-trick in last weekend's 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United but was a largely anonymous figure in Wednesday's 3-1 EFL Cup fourth-round loss to West Ham United.
Brentford's Ivan Toney is also thought to be a prime target of Arsenal's, but the Bees are supposedly prepared to hold out for a £100m sum if they are to let the Englishman leave in January, when he will return from an eight-month betting ban.
Ben Knapton
