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Manchester United’s top target – is this finally Benjamin Sesko’s summer?
“He’s good in front of goal. He has a good attitude. He is relentless.”
It’s clear why Premier League teams are interested in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, valued at £70m.
Despite being only 22, the Slovenia international has been linked with a move to English football for years – could this be the summer he finally makes the transition?
Manchester United have reportedly made him their primary striker target, while Newcastle United are also interested, contingent on Alexander Isak’s potential departure.
Arsenal had previously shown strong interest before pursuing Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres. Chelsea have also been mentioned as potential suitors.
Sesko, known for his size, strength, speed, aerial prowess, and finishing ability, has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland – a likeness that extends beyond their shared history at Salzburg.
Why is he attracting so much attention from top clubs?
Man Utd make Leipzig’s Sesko top striker target
Sesko is a proven goalscorer. In fact, he has scored more goals than any other player in his age bracket over the past two seasons (more on that later).
Last season, he evolved into a more complete player, with 9.7% of his touches occurring in the opposition box, compared to 17% the season prior.
He became more involved on both wings and deeper in midfield.
He was among the fastest strikers in the Bundesliga, clocking a speed of 35.7km/h, and boasted the highest aerial success rate among strikers involved in at least 60 aerial duels.
A recruitment specialist working at the highest level recently shared insights with BBC Sport’s Alex Howell about Sesko, who stands at 6ft 5in.
“He’s so athletic, he’s big, physical and strong,” the anonymous source stated.
“I think the physicality of the Premier League won’t overawe him.
“When you look at some players in Europe, where the tempo is slower, you see them struggle to transition to bigger leagues.
“The Bundesliga is one of the big three in the world, but when you look at transitioning in big leagues he has the physical capabilities to do it.”
What other qualities does Sesko, who idolized former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his youth, possess?
“He is clinical, he can drop in into space,” the recruitment expert explained.
“One of his strengths is getting the ball quickly. He can hold it, hold defenders off, he can give it to the winger, he can give it to the 10.
“He’s good in front of goal. He has a good attitude. He is relentless.”
“You wouldn’t expect him to hit the ground running straight away, but in six to 12 months he will be fine and you’ve got yourself a very good player.”
Central European football expert Lukas Vrablik added: “I think Sesko has the quality to play in one of Europe’s best sides. He can be a big asset. At the same time he’s a player who will develop.
“He’s not the finished product yet. Right now he is one of the best strikers in Europe, but he still has room for improvement.”
Sesko has spent the past two seasons in Germany with Leipzig, having joined from sister club Salzburg in 2023.
That transfer had been agreed and announced in the summer of 2022, precluding any potential move to English clubs.
He has scored 39 goals and provided eight assists in 87 appearances across all competitions during those two seasons, including 27 goals in 64 league games.
Six of those goals have come in the Champions League.
Since moving to Germany, Sesko has been the highest-scoring player under the age of 23 in all competitions, among those playing in Europe’s top five leagues.
He is one goal ahead of Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and five ahead of Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £100m this summer.
“Last season, I don’t think he was as good as the season before – but that was also influenced by Leipzig not being so good as a team,” Vrablik noted.
“There are big expectations for him as a striker. There is big hype around him.”
Sesko has demonstrated clinical finishing during his time in Germany.
Only six forwards have scored more goals in the Bundesliga in the past two seasons, despite Sesko ranking 16th in expected goals, 14th in shots, and 22nd in touches in the opposition box.
He is also dangerous from long range, with 36.8% of his shots and 23.1% of his goals originating from outside the box. Both figures are higher than any other Bundesliga striker who scored 12 or more goals last season.
All of Sesko’s senior football to date has been with Red Bull affiliated teams in Europe, after he left home for Salzburg at the age of 16.
He spent two seasons with Salzburg’s feeder club, Liefering, in the Austrian second tier, scoring 22 goals in 44 matches.
21 of those goals came in 2020-21, compared to just one the previous season.
He then progressed to Salzburg, scoring 29 goals in 79 appearances over two full seasons, winning the league title in both campaigns, as well as the Austrian Cup, where he scored in the final victory over Ried.
Slovenian journalist Miran Zore stated in 2024: “We kind of expected his success but no-one knew he was so special, except his agent, Elvis Basanovic, who tried to convince people about his potential.
“He used to send messages to scouts and directors, saying, ‘this is the next goal machine’.
“When he was struggling in Salzburg at the start, people were asking his agent, ‘where’s this goal machine’. Now, everyone is laughing about it.”
In 2022, Sesko himself was quoted as saying: “My team-mates at the club tell me that Haaland and I are very similar, especially in terms of speed. Most of them even tell me that I’m better than him.”
Manchester City striker Haaland (who left Salzburg before Sesko’s debut) scored the same number of goals for the Austrian club as Sesko, but the Norwegian only needed 27 matches, 34% of the amount Sesko played.
So perhaps his team-mates were just being kind…
Even so, that comment alone suggests a degree of self-assurance.
“I hear from people in Slovenia who worked with him that he’s a really hard-working guy – and really confident,” Vrablik said.
“He has a healthy confidence, which is really important for a striker.”
For his country, Sesko has scored 16 goals in 41 appearances and played for them at Euro 2024. Only three players have ever scored more for the former Yugoslav nation.
Speaking in 2024, former Slovenia international Miran Pavlin said: “He has to focus on playing well and the transfer will come – if not this year, then in one or two years.
“He has the potential to be one of the top 10 strikers in the world, for sure.”
There is no guarantee that Sesko will leave Leipzig.
However, they have failed to qualify for Europe this season and are undergoing a summer rebuild under new manager Ole Werner.
BBC Sport understands that Sesko has an informal agreement with the club allowing him to leave if an elite team offers around £70m.
When Sesko joined Leipzig from Salzburg in 2023, he had a release clause of £55m – but he signed a new long-term deal last summer.
Reports suggest that this new deal also includes a release clause, which has increased.
This raises the question of who can afford him. The answer is likely limited to Premier League clubs or Saudi Arabian teams.
“He’s well-positioned to make a difference at a top club. It’s just a matter of time until he moves,” Vrablik said. “But maybe not this summer.
“I think the price paid a part [in why he hasn’t moved yet]. There are not many clubs who can afford him right now, which is a problem if he wants to move on.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him stay at Leipzig another season. It might be good for his development if he can repeat the season from before Euro 2024.
“It depends on the market, maybe some departure would bring this effect. I expected him to end up at Arsenal.”
Arsenal were interested in Sesko before signing Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres in a deal worth up to £64m (73m euros) – still a significant sum, but slightly less expensive.
Manchester United had identified Sesko and Aston Villa’s England striker Ollie Watkins as their primary targets, but are now focusing on the Slovenian and have engaged in discussions with Leipzig.
United have already invested £130m in forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer, but still have funds available.
Rasmus Hojlund is United’s other striker.
However, Newcastle are also interested in Sesko – contingent on the potential departure of their own star striker.
Swede Isak was not part of their pre-season tour to Asia, and BBC Sport understands he is evaluating his options.
Liverpool are reportedly interested in Isak, but a move would likely cost in excess of £100m.
That fee would, in turn, enable Newcastle to afford Sesko.
Callum Wilson left St James’ Park on a free transfer this summer, meaning 21-year-old William Osula would be their only senior striker if Isak were to leave.
Unlike Manchester United, a move to Newcastle would offer Sesko the opportunity to play in the Champions League next season.
Chelsea, who have also been linked, could also provide that.
However, the Blues have already signed strikers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro for a combined £90m this summer, suggesting they would need to offload Nicolas Jackson and possibly others.
In the past, half of Europe’s elite clubs, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, and AC Milan, have also been linked with Sesko.
But those links have cooled.
Will the same happen for the Premier League clubs currently in the running for his signature, or is this finally the summer Sesko makes his move?
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