Manchester United have reportedly made Benjamin Sesko their primary target for the striker position ahead of the 2025-26 season, overtaking Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins on their shortlist.
According to a report from The Athletic, United have already initiated informal contact with RB Leipzig after deciding that the Slovenian forward best fits the profile they are seeking. Sesko recently signed a new contract with Leipzig that runs until 2029. However, there is an understanding that if a top club comes in with an offer in the region of 80 to 90 million euros, the German side would be willing to let him leave.
Newcastle United are also said to be monitoring Sesko’s situation closely, especially with uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak, who has reportedly informed the club that he wants to explore his options in the transfer window.
Manchester United have also shown interest in Ollie Watkins, but Aston Villa have made it clear that the England international is not for sale. Watkins remains a crucial part of Unai Emery’s plans, and Villa are determined to keep him.
If United do land Sesko, it would mark a departure from their current transfer strategy under Ruben Amorim, which has focused on players with Premier League experience. This summer, they have already brought in Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford to bolster their attack.
Interestingly, United had tracked Sesko as early as 2019 when he was still at RB Salzburg, but were unwilling to meet the three million euro fee at the time, considering it too high. Since then, Sesko has developed into one of Europe’s most promising young strikers.
After a disastrous 2024-25 season where United finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, Amorim is under pressure to turn things around quickly. With pre-season preparations underway, the club will be keen to finalise key signings and ensure the squad is tactically ready before the new campaign begins.
The potential signing of Sesko could be a major step in the rebuild, signalling United’s intent to return to the top of English football.
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