Sesko’s desire to play in the Premier League, on top of high salary demands, could prove to be a stumbling block for the Turin titans. Juve have revived their interest in the 21-year-old RB Leipzig striker, which dates back to last year.
Sesko has been on the Bianconeri radar ever since he bagged a brace in the 3-2 defeat to Juventus last October. The Champions League tie in Germany was action-packed. Shotstopper Michele Di Gregorio was sent off on the hour-mark, Dusan Vlahovic scored twice and Francesco Conceicao snatched a late winner.
Bundesliga outfit Leipzig have slapped a €100 million (US$113.5m) price tag on Sesko, their prized asset who has notched 11 goals in 28 league appearances this term on top of his four Champions League strikes.
Yet German newspaper Sport Bild claim that there is a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in place, which could allow Leipzig’s talisman to leave for a snip at €70m (US$79.5m) this summer.
The Slovenia international has been attracting attention from an array of leading Premier League clubs. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur lead the chase.
Tudor difference
Juventus appear to have an outside chance of securing the signature of Sesko. Although the club have been focused on signing a striker due to underwhelming performances from Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz under Thiago Motta, the pair are rejuvenated since the arrival of interim manager Igor Tudor last month.
Vlahovic is Tudor’s favorite Serie A striker and, despite not scoring in any of the three games with the Croatian at the helm, he set up both goals in Juve’s nervy win over lowly Lecce last weekend.
Juve’s top scorer this term is refusing to discuss a new contract if his salary is reduced, so Juve are considering any summer offers for Vlahovic as his deal expires at the end of next season.
Future superstar
Yildiz, hyped up by super agent Jorge Mendes since the turn of the year, is being swiftly sharpened and tweaked by Tudor.
Juventus have issued a hands off policy to clubs interested in the Turkish teenager, because they expect him to follow in the footsteps of Alessandro Del Piero by being a club legend at no10.
Although Juve arguably require a consistent striker, should Tudor be in charge next term then Vlahovic and Yildiz should be prolific in front of goal.
Samuel Mbangula is another attacker that Juve are refusing to sell, he has the pace and physicality to become part of Tudor’s plans.
No-go Osimhen
Juve have been searching for some time for a top-class striker with an instinct for banging in goals. Their number one target was Napoli outcast Victor Osimhen, but he was not interested in a switch to Turin.
Atalanta ace Ademola Lookman, Bologna's Dan Ndoye, Lecce hot-shot Nikola Krstovic, plus the Manchester United duo Antony and Rasmus Hojlund remain of keen interest to the Bianconeri.
Sesko and exiled Barcelona striker Ansu Fati are two serious Juventus targets who could be lured to Serie A. Yet with a plethora of Premier League teams showing serious interest in the pair, it seems only a slim chance that their goal-scoring abilities will be on show in a Juve jersey next season.