Manchester United are working on a proposal that could reach £60m+ to sign a Cole Palmer-like star after Benjamin Sesko.
Leipzig star Sesko chooses Man Utd move over Newcastle
The Red Devils have already splashed the cash this summer with deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but they are now set to go one better with a move for Sesko.
The towering RB Leipzig striker has chosen to join Man Utd over Premier League rivals Newcastle United and looks set to become INEOS' most expensive addition of the summer.
Sesko has agreed to a five-year deal at Old Trafford, with United’s opening offer to the Bundesliga side being worth just under £74m.
A proposed move to Manchester has raised some concerns from Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant Rene Meulensteen, who drew comparisons to Rasmus Hojlund.
“If he scores in the first three or four games and hits the ground running then he could be the answer for the club, but there’s a chance that won’t happen.
“If you look at Hojlund, he joined Atalanta and performed well alongside the rest of the team and then joined United. The same can be said for Sesko – the Bundesliga is a very different league to the Premier League, so he’ll need to adapt.
"Has Sesko got potential? 100%, but he’s still young and developing and he isn’t the finished article.”
Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo may well be Amorim’s first-choice front three for the opening day clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford, but by the looks of it, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe aren’t stopping with the Slovenia international.
Man Utd and INEOS going all out for £60m+ Fermin Lopez
According to a report from Spain, Man Utd are now ‘going all out’ to sign Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez. It is claimed that those on the board at Old Trafford are ‘working on a proposal’ that could hit €70m (£60.1m).
However, it is added that Barcelona ‘doesn't want to lose one of the most promising players to emerge from its youth system in recent years’, but may need to raise funds through player sales.
Therefore, Man Utd are ‘confident that their sporting project and the possibility of offering him a leading role will entice’ Lopez.
At the age of 22, Lopez is going from strength to strength with the Catalan giants and is now valued at a career-high €50m by Transfermarkt.
Capable of playing as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder or left-winger, Lopez is under contract at the Nou Camp until 2029. In total, the Spain international has made 88 senior appearances for Barcelona, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists during that time.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has also been impressed with what he’s seen from Lopez, comparing the Barca man to Chelsea star Cole Palmer.
“That boy doesn’t just play football... he embarrasses players! If United get him, that’s a Palmer-type baller… maybe even more techy!”