Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Benjamin Sesko after RB Leipzig reportedly dropped their asking price. The Gunners are yet to sign a centre-forward in the summer transfer window but have made Sesko their top transfer target.

Mikel Arteta knows they need a top-class striker to bolster their attack following a third straight second-placed finish in the Premier League. Sporting director Andrea Berta is the man tasked with signing one and has explored deals for Sesko and Sporting Lisbon goal machine Viktor Gyokeres.

But things have gone quiet of late, much to the annoyance of some supporters, who are desperate for a striker to be signed. However, it now seems as though Arsenal’s patience could be rewarded, with Bild reporting that Leipzig are backing down from their previous stance.

It was previously thought that the German side were demanding a fee of between €80million and €100m (£68m and £85m) for Sesko. That had put off the Premier League side, who reacted by exploring alternative options.

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But now it is being suggested that a fee of €70m (£59.7m) might be enough for the 22-year-old, who is under contract with Leipzig until June 2029 and scored 21 goals in 45 games across all competitions last season.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of Sesko and believe he is a better bet than Gyokeres for a few reasons. The Slovenian international is five years younger than the 27-year-old former Coventry City striker and is playing in a more competitive division, with the Bundesliga rated higher than the Portuguese top flight.

Sesko is open to moving to the Premier League this summer, but his agent is taking a different approach to Gyokeres, who has fallen out with Sporting’s hierarchy. Asked about rumours that he had been lobbying Leipzig to lower their asking price, Elvis Basanovic said: “This is far from truth.

“We respect RB Leipzig and I am 100 per cent convinced RB Leipzig will also respect our decision for the next step when we decide to do it. Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig.

“I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club. I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests but no matter what, I believe in football world should be more respect.

“So that’s why we do things in the right way or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”

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