Manchester United are taking another risk in their ongoing pursuit of Benjamin Sesko amid their obvious need for a proven goalscorer.
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.
Benjamin Sesko celebrates after scoring for RB Leipzig.
Manchester United have made an opening offer for Benjamin Sesko.
(Image: Maja Hitij/Getty Images.)
Manchester United have been down this road before.
After signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atlanta in the 2023 summer transfer window, United are now trying to sign another young striker in the form of RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko.
United are understood to have submitted an opening offer for the striker worth just under £74million. It is a significant fee for a player that has never scored more than 15 goals in a single season in one of Europe's top five leagues.
The Slovenian international scored 13 Bundesliga goals for Leipzig last season and 14 the season before. It is a respectable return for a player that only turned 22 at the very end of May, but is it good enough to command such an eye-watering price tag?
Newcastle United have, of course, also expressed plenty of interest in the former Red Bull Salzburg striker, making two bids for his services thus far. Their second offer is reportedly worth more than United's opening bid.
Attracting such interest from two Premier League clubs suggests both United and Newcastle are firmly of the belief Sesko is a striker that has the capability to come to England and make all the difference.
The Reds, after finishing last season with a goal difference of -10, have prioritised attacking signings this summer, already bringing in Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. However, the missing piece in the jigsaw remains a No.9.
In Cunha and Mbeumo, United have signed two players with proven Premier League records. They scored 35 league goals between them last term and have plundered 71 career goals in England's top flight.
As a result of their additions to Ruben Amorim's squad, United are within their rights to believe they can take a gamble on Sesko and deploy him at the tip of what would be a new-look attack. The Slovenian would be able to lean on them for support to help ease the burden on his shoulders.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim stands with his arms folded.
Ruben Amorim is desperate to bring in a striker.(Image: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.)
United have also expressed interest in Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins recently. He boasts a proven Premier League record and has plundered 35 goals league since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
Watkins would offer a greater guarantee of hitting the ground running at Old Trafford and providing immediate results in front of goal. He knows the league inside out and has a very respectable record.
On the flip side, Sesko has a higher ceiling than the England international, and potential is what United would be buying. Only turning 22 just over two months ago, he is still raw and developing.
However, United, ahead of the start of this season, want to try and implement a long-term strategy under Amorim that can lead them to a position from which they will be able to launch a genuine title charge for the 2027/28 season. 'Project 150' was unveiled last year and it is has been created with the ambition of United winning the Premier League title in 2028 to coincide with their 150th anniversary.
United's aim for the coming season, first and foremost, has to be securing a place back in Europe for the 2026/27 campaign. The Reds will be without European football this season for the first time since 2014/15.
Although United will have fight from a low base to secure their place back in Europe for next season, they will be confident of doing so with the new signings they have made so far. Furthermore, a full pre-season for Amorim already appears to be paying off.
Benjamin Sesko celebrates after scoring for RB Leipzig.
Manchester United hope to win the race for Benjamin Sesko.
Signing Sesko as a long-term option is something United can, to a degree, get away with this summer amid their additions of proven Premier League operators in Mbeumo and Cunha.
The club, in the last 12 months or so, has shown through their recruitment they are prepared to sign young players with a long-term plan in mind.
Sesko is by no means the finished article, and signing him would represent another massive risk in the attacking department, but there is no doubt about his potential, meaning he could prove to be a shrewd addition in the long-term.