Man United are looking to bring Benjamin Sesko to Old Trafford to end their search for a striker.
George is a Senior Football Writer for the Manchester Evening News, mostly covering Manchester United. He previously worked for football.london before joining the MEN team in July 2021. As well as covering United, George is a Championship-enthusiast and co-hosts The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24), which you can find on all major podcast platforms.
Manchester United want to sign Benjamin Sesko.(Image: Ronny Hartmann/AFP via Getty Images.)
It is easy to understand why some Manchester United supporters have reservations about the club’s pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
After all, United turned to a young and inexperienced striker in the form of Rasmus Hojlund two years ago to become the focal point of their attack, and it is fair to say that experiment has not gone well.
The Dane, who joined United from Atalanta in August 2023 for an initial fee of £64million, scored just ten goals in all competitions last season, chipping in with just four in the Premier League.
As a result, United have been left with no choice but to prioritise the addition of a new striker this summer.
After missing out on Liam Delap and consistently being linked with Viktor Gyokeres, who recently joined Arsenal, United are now prioritising a swoop for Sesko.
Also attracting firm interest from Newcastle United, it is understood United are advancing with a potential deal for the 22-year-old, who joined Leipzig from sister club Red Bull Salzburg in 2023. United first expressed an interesting in signing him in 2022.
After recording a negative goal difference in each of the last two Premier League campaigns, United need to add players who can score goals.
The Reds set their stall out from the outset, reaching an agreement with Wolves to sign Matheus Cunha on the opening day of the transfer window after triggering his £62.5m release clause. The deal was officially completed 11 days later.
Matheus Cunha is a statement addition.(Image: Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images.)
Although negotiations were drawn out, United strengthened their attack even further last week, bringing in Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a deal that could eventually cost up to £71m.
Between them, Cunha and Mbeumo scored 37 goals for Wolves and Brentford respectively last term, of which 35 were netted in the Premier League. They have scored 71 career goals in England’s top flight between them.
In signing two of the Premier League’s best players from last season, United have made no secret of their preference to sign Premier League proven talent this summer. They have taken one too many gambles with overseas imports in recent seasons.
Although no transfer is guaranteed to be a success, United have taken less of a risk in signing two players who have proven track records in the Premier League. With no European football to come this season, the league will have United’s full focus.
With attainable Premier League strikers of the right age and profile few and far between, raiding another domestic rival for a centre-forward always looked as though it would be challenging.
Ollie Watkins has made his way onto United’s radar, but Aston Villa remain adamant he is not for sale. He is a proven Premier League operator, scoring 75 goals over the last five seasons.
Manchester United have been taking a look at Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.(Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images.)
On the face of it, signing Watkins would not represent as big a risk as signing Sesko. However, the latter has a much higher ceiling and is seven years Watkins’ junior.
Although Sesko is yet to play in the Premier League, he does have a respectable record in Leipzig colours, scoring 39 goals in his first 87 appearances for the club. He scored 21 goals in all competitions last term, scoring 13 in the Bundesliga, four in the DFB-Pokal and four in the Champions League.
Not turning 22 until as recently as May 31, no player aged 21 or younger scored more Bundesliga goals than Sesko last season, highlighting his potential.
While there is no doubt United are looking at the prospect of signing Sesko based on his potential, he does have an impressive record for a player of his age. Although he is two years older than Hojlund was when he joined United, the Leipzig striker’s record is a lot more attractive.
Nevertheless, signing another young striker from overseas does mark another transfer gamble United are willing to take.
But with Mbeumo and Cunha set to form two thirds of their attack this coming season, it is a risk United can afford to take – and it could even be a masterstroke.