Arsenal get green light for Sesko transfer as forward stands ground over £60m

Benjamin Sesko was targeted by Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for a £60m switch in time for the Club World Cup, but that deadline has now passed and Arsenal could swoop in

Arsenal will be able to proceed with a move for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko after the Slovenia international wasn't tempted to make a money-spinning switch to Saudi Arabia in time to play at the Club World Cup.

Saudi outfit Al Hilal had settled on Sesko as their third target in the hunt for a big name forward to join Aleksandar Mitrovic in their squad for the tournament in the US this summer.

But they had to complete a deal by 7pm GMT on Tuesday in order to register new players for the group stages.

Al Hilal face Real Madrid in their Club World Cup opener next Wednesday, and they are hoping to use the tournament to prove that Saudi sides have made giant strides forward in recent years despite criticism of their Pro League.

One of the key ways they are seeking to do that is of course cash, but Al Hilal failed in pursuits of Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres before Sesko, who is seeking to leave Leipzig this summer but would rather stay in Europe.

Those forward snubs come after Al Hilal, who last week appointed Simone Inzaghi as their new boss, were also turned down by Bruno Fernandes, who opted not to join his Portugal team-mates Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves in Saudi Arabia and instead stay at Manchester United.

Arsenal have been chasing Sesko for a year, and came close to completing a deal for the 22-year-old last summer.

He has remained on their radar ever since, along with the in-demand Gyokeres and Newcastle hotshot Alexander Isak. And with interest from a wide range of clubs in Gyokeres and Isak commanding a fee of north of £100million, the Slovenian is seen as the easier player to sign.

Leipzig failed to qualify for European football this season despite 21 goals in 45 games in all competitions for Sesko, and the Bundesliga outfit are now set to part ways with both the centre forward and attacking midfielder Xavi Simons in order to raise cash.

Sesko could earn up to four times as much money at Al Hilal than he'd get at Arsenal, and a while a move there cannot be ruled out once the transfer window reopens again next Monday, the fact that he has rebuffed this interest looks to be a good sign for the Gunners.