24 June 2024 , 21:30
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Gareth Southgate has put England on red alert over Slovenia danger man Benjamin Sesko.
Three Lions boss Southgate says 21-year-old striker Sesko is a “handful” and admitted he can see why he has become one of the hottest properties in Europe. Arsenal had made Sesko their No.1 transfer target this summer but the Slovenia star is set to stay at RB Leipzig after agreeing a new deal.
Sesko has been nursing a thigh injury but is expected to play and Southgate says he will keep England’s defenders on their toes. Southgate said: “Slovenia don't concede many goals. They're a very organised team and fairly direct.
"Their forwards are a handful, Sesko in particular, he's much coveted. We're going to have to defend extremely well, which we have done to this point.”
Sesko is determined to improve his growing reputation by trying to help Slovenia upset England and reach the knock-out stages. His last contract included a “gentleman’s agreement” to allow him to go for £45m rather than buy-out clause but his value will soar because of a new deal and if he can catch the eye in the Euros.
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Meanwhile, Southgate now believes you can see genuine progress in fitness levels. After a long, hard season, and players overcoming injury absences, England have stepped up training and are ready to raise the game in the rest of the tournament.
Slovenia's Benjamin Sesko (R) could pose England a real problem (UEFA via Getty Images)Southgate added: “We’re definitely making progress. When you think that when we got Marc Guehi through the door, he’d had 70 minutes which was the most he’d played for Crystal Palace in the last three months.
“ Kieran Trippier hadn’t had a 90 minutes for three months. Then Harry Kane and others coming back from injuries as well. So two games in, with a bit of recovery time all those players will be in a better place that’s for certain.
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“And that’s definitely going to help us as we progress through the tournament. That’s where we have to stay calm and make sensible decisions and make the right calls, keep everybody on track. We were pretty certain four points would qualify us and then it’s about winning the group.
“We’ve trodden this path before, we’re exactly where we were points wise in the last Euros, scored a goal more and conceded a goal more. On the path to the next round and now we want to control our destiny by winning the group.”