United Leads Newcastle in Benjamin Sesko Chase

German Star Favours Old Trafford Move Despite Champions League Absence

Manchester United appears to hold a significant edge over rivals Newcastle United in the race to sign striker Benjamin Sesko, with both clubs reportedly in discussions with the talented 22-year-old forward.

Striker Search Intensifies Amidst Offensive Woes

The Red Devils are actively seeking a new focal point for their attack this summer, a necessity underscored by the disappointing goal returns of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season. Their combined output of just seven Premier League goals mirrored the club’s worst-ever finish in the league era.

With a meagre 44 league goals scored, a tally surpassed only by relegated clubs and Everton, United’s attacking frailties were starkly evident. While reinforcements like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have been acquired, the club is still prioritising a potent centre-forward to spearhead their revitalised attack.

Previous transfer targets have opted for alternative destinations. England U-21 international Liam Delap reportedly rejected United, favouring Chelsea due to the lack of European football at Old Trafford. Similarly, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, who previously worked with current United manager Ruben Amorim, joined Arsenal instead of considering a move to Manchester.

An approach for Eintracht Frankfurt’s exciting prospect Hugo Ekitike also proved fruitless, as the Frenchman ultimately chose Liverpool. These setbacks have redirected United’s focus to Sesko, a rapidly emerging talent from Germany.

United’s Longstanding Interest in Sesko

Manchester United has maintained a keen interest in Sesko for an extended period, having monitored his development since he was a teenager at Slovenian club NK Domžale. An offer was tabled in 2022 when he was at RB Salzburg, but the player opted to stay within the Red Bull structure, moving to RB Leipzig the following year.

According to reports from Germany’s Leipziger Volkszeitung, a local newspaper with a strong track record for RB Leipzig news, both United and Newcastle have initiated contact with Sesko’s representatives.

“If Sesko had a choice, he, like all history-conscious footballers in the universe, would point unerringly at Manchester. Man United may not be playing in the Champions League (Newcastle has qualified), but they have immense appeal.”

—Leipziger Volkszeitung, Report

The report suggests that Sesko would favour a move to Old Trafford over St James’ Park, citing the “immense appeal” of Manchester United, even without Champions League qualification. This preference offers a significant boost to United’s pursuit.

While club-to-club negotiations with RB Leipzig are pending, likely due to financial considerations with Sesko anticipated to command a fee exceeding £70 million, securing the player’s agreement is a crucial step. United’s ability to attract players to their project, even in the absence of top European competition, is a positive indicator for their transfer ambitions. For context, in the 2023-24 season, Manchester United conceded an average of 1.7 goals per game at Old Trafford, highlighting an area for defensive reinforcement that a strong striker could help mitigate by scoring more goals (via Premier League official stats).

The player’s inclination towards the Manchester project could be the decisive factor in landing the striker that manager Ruben Amorim reportedly desires.