Manchester United are in the market for a new striker and will have one eye on developments at Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have signed for Manchester United this summer, but Ruben Amorim’s quest for attacking reinforcements continues.
United have launched a bid for Benjamin Sesko, with the RB Leipzig striker now facing a huge decision.
Sesko also has an offer on the table from Newcastle United, meaning he must now decide between moving to Old Trafford or St James’ Park.
The Slovenian hitman would be a major addition to United’s attack, but alternative targets will be in mind in case Sesko chooses Newcastle.
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Photo by SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa set to sign Ineos favourite Evann Guessand
One man Ineos may have at least considered is Nice attacker Evann Guessand.
Deals between Nice and United were banned by UEFA last year due to the Ineos connection, though Manchester City and Girona were in the same boat and are now agreeing deals with each other.
Nice and United are no longer in the same European competition, so that could ease restrictions on deals between the two clubs.
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Ivorian attacker Guessand has certainly caught the eye and has been highly rated by Ineos in the past.
Ineos sent Guessand on loan to Lausanne-Sport, another Ineos club, in 2020, and he has emerged as a star for Nice.
Ineos clearly thought highly enough of Guessand to have him play for the Swiss side, and that move has helped his development at Nice.
The 24-year-old hit 13 goals in all competitions last season and is now on the verge of a Premier League move – though not to United.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Aston Villa have agreed a package worth up to €35million (£30million) for Guessand’s signature.
Guessand is heading for a medical at Villa and will be another goalscoring threat for Unai Emery’s side.
Capable of playing up front or out wide, Guessand will now be in line to face off against United twice this season, and could haunt Ineos in the process.
🚨🟣🔵 Evann Guessand to Aston Villa, here we go! Verbal agreement in place after €30m plus €5m add-ons bid accepted.
OGC Nice authorized Guessand to travel for medical and contract signing as next steps. New striker for Unai Emery. pic.twitter.com/hYPZxPdKCB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2025
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Manchester United keeping Ollie Watkins in mind
There may not have been any links to Guessand, but United will still keep close tabs on his move and its potential impact on Ollie Watkins.
United have targeted Watkins this summer and may still fancy the England international as a fallback option behind Sesko.
The Independent even add that United are still interested in signing Watkins as an alternative to Sesko.
Villa signing another attacker is interesting and may just tempt United into making another move for Watkins if there are any issues over Sesko.
The likelihood is that Villa will want Guessand to support Watkins rather than replace him, especially with Marcus Rashford’s loan spell now over.
Donyell Malen has impressed in pre-season, though, and Guessand adds another option to Emery’s attacking ranks.
A deal for Watkins is still ambitious, but Ineos will have signed off on Guessand’s move to Villa and may hold out some hope of a positive impact for United, just in case Sesko ends up on Tyneside.