Real Madrid are reportedly ready to fight it out with Premier League giants Liverpool for the signing of RB Salzburg’s teenage sensation Benjamin Sesko.
According to a report from Spanish publication Fichajes, La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid have entered the race to sign RB Salzburg’s 18-year-old goalscorer Benjamin Sesko, who is also on the radars of Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Sesko spent the early years of his footballing journey in his homeland, Slovenia, at the academies of NK Krsko and NK Domzale, before making his way to RB Salzburg in the summer of 2019. The 18-year-old was immediately loaned out to fellow Austrian club FC Liefering for the last two seasons, where he enjoyed a solid spell bagging 22 goals and 6 assists in 44 games.
Back at Salzburg this summer, Sesko has been integrated into the first-team and has been delivering the early promise that he showed. To date, he has made 17 appearances for the Austrian giants, scoring seven goals and setting up three more. The teenage striker has also earned three caps for the Slovenian national team as well.
Sesko’s progress with Liefering and Salzburg has seemingly caught the attention of some of the biggest clubs across the globe in the form of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Liverpool have been linked with a number of centre-forwards of late, and it makes sense considering that Roberto Firmino’s returns in front of goal have diminished over the past couple of seasons while Divock Origi is seemingly set for an exit during the January transfer window. Furthermore, with Firmino nearing his thirties, it only bodes well for the Reds to prepare for the future.
Sesko, to that end, has emerged as a transfer target for Jurgen Klopp & co. along with his RB Salzburg teammate Karim Adeyemi. However, Liverpool will need to stave off the threat posed by Real Madrid, who are also keen on securing the services of the 18-year-old prodigy from the Austrian outfit.
Real Madrid are on the lookout for a new striker as a long-term replacement for superstar Karim Benzema while they are also in need of proper cover for the Frenchman, with Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz struggling at the Santiago Bernabeu. Moves for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have been mooted for the next year.
But Mbappe can play anywhere in the frontline and can be utilised out wide as well, so there will be room for another striker to provide cover, making Sesko a viable transfer target for Carlo Ancelotti & co., who are also interested in LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David. With Bayern Munich also in the mix for the 18-year-old hitman, it will be interesting to see who ends up signing him next year.
