Leipzig forward Sesko showing off his talent with 2 goals in 2 Champions League games

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Benjamin Sesko is showing in the Champions League why clubs like Arsenal, AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United have been pursuing him as a transfer target.

The 6-foot-5 (1.95-meter) Leipzig forward scored his second goal in two games of the revamped competition with an impressive strike in the first half against Juventus on Wednesday.

Sesko stuck his right leg up to control a pass then used his left foot to smash the ball in off the underside of the crossbar to put Leipzig ahead 1-0.

In Leipzig’s opening 2-1 loss at Atletico Madrid, Sesko scored four minutes in with a header.

The 21-year-old Sesko had been linked to a possible transfer after last season but the pursuit ended on the eve of the European Championship when he extended his contract with Leipzig.

Before moving to Leipzig in a 24 million euros deal ($25.8 million), the basketball-loving Slovenian was at its sibling club, Salzburg, at the same time as Erling Haaland.

He was valued at 50 million euros ($55 million) by transfermarkt.com in May but his worth could be well beyond that now.

Last month, Sesko scored a hat trick for Slovenia in a 3-0 win against Kazakhstan in the Nations League.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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