After a long summer of Manchester United looking for a striker, now Benjamin Sesko appears to have emerged as the priority target.
The RB Leipzig frontman is not a new target for Manchester United, however, now Benjamin Sesko appears to be more serious of a contender than ever.
United have been tracking Sesko since 2022, when he was just a promising teenager, however the Slovenia international opted against this move, instead wanting to take gradual steps in his career.
Even at the age of 19, RB Salzburg wanted £55m to sell Sesko, with the knowledge that his talent would likely see him worth more in the years to come.
But before being quoted that amount, United actually could have signed Sesko for £2.5m in 2019 when he was 16. So he is a player that the club clearly like and this interest has carried over under Ineos.
In December, United in Focus exclusively revealed that Sesko was going to be on United’s radar in 2025. Now, United are pushing forward to sign Sesko in a move which would round off a summer of attacking transformation at Old Trafford.
Benjamin Sesko running while wearing RB Leipzig kit.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Benjamin Sesko predicted he would be ready for Manchester United
Sesko and United have orbited too close in the past for him to never join the club, and this summer he could find himself at the perfect moment in his young career to make a big move.
The striker is intelligent, unlike so many young talents who would take the money on offer in the Premier League even if it would be detrimental for their development, and he showed this by turning down United in 2022.
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Speaking about the chance of moving to Old Trafford at the time, with Slovenian YouTuber Vauks Army, Sesko explained it wasn’t the right moment in his career.
“Honestly, maybe in a few years. Right now, I’m not ready for that level. I still have much to learn and so much room to improve.
“Let’s say if my maximum is 100 per cent, I’m currently at 60 per cent. I’m still growing and improving year by year and once I reach 100 per cent, I’ll be ready for anything. I think it’s best to take that step when the time is right.
Sesko is clearly in football for the long haul and he is completely right in his stance. If he joined United at the age of 19, he would certainly have been a victim of the same issues Rasmus Hojlund has faced regarding pressure.
United were not a club where players could develop, with an immediate demand for reward due to the lack of quality from senior attackers.
So, Sesko made the right decision in 2022, and now in 2025 Sesko wants to join United, which is the right decision again for multiple reasons.
Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United is right player at the right time
On the surface of things, signing Sesko could be considered a risk considering he isn’t exactly a guaranteed success considering his age and relative lack of experience.
However, the major worry around this is that it will be a repeat of Hojlund, but the situation awaiting Sesko is vastly different to what the Dane faced when he first arrived.
United right now have a support system in place for Sesko, with other strikers and also the brilliant duo of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo who are Premier League proven capable of easing the pressure which will be on the Slovenian.
Signing Sesko this summer alongside the two current big additions is the ideal timing to bring in an elite prospect.
This deal makes sense for all parties and feels like it can accelerate fairly quickly, providing that he sees United as the right choice this time around.