The release clause of Chelsea transfer target Benjamin Sesko is now €80m (£68m), according to Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze.

However, the journalist claims that the striker’s club, RB Leipzig, are “flexible” in terms of how teams pay the fee in question.

If no one is willing to shell out the €80m (£68m) up front, the Bundesliga side are prepared to discuss a payment structure, where some of the money is paid in the form of add-ons.

Sesko would probably cost more to buy in the long run, with Hinze suggesting that a club could pay €75m with another €15m paid in bonuses.

Nonetheless, such an arrangement would be beneficial for Premier League clubs looking to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules.

The forward is not currently a top target for Chelsea

While the Slovenian international has been on the Blues’ radar for quite some time, other strikers have moved ahead of him on the club’s shortlist of options since then.

It is believed that Ipswich’s Liam Delap is among the top names. With a £30m release clause, the 22-year-old is available for less than half the price.

Sesko could still end up in the Premier League

Arsenal are said to be weighing up a move for the RB Leipzig player if they fail to land either Newcastle’s Alexander Isak or Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Manchester United also remain big fans of Sesko, having originally considered signing him prior to his transfer to Germany in 2023. Liverpool have been credited with an interest too.

With 21 goals and 6 assists in 43 games this season, the striker is beginning to realise his potential so it will be interesting to see where he does end up if a team decides to meet Leipzig’s demands.

Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here