Manchester United have triumphed in the battle for Benjamin Sesko, snatching him from under Newcastle's nose. The 22 year old striker has been signed from German outfit RB Leipzig in a deal potentially worth £74million.
Ruben Amorim's squad will shell out an initial £66.4m, with an additional £7.6m in potential add-ons. Sesko has inked a five-year contract, ensuring his stay at Old Trafford until June 2030.
Despite having their bid accepted by Leipzig earlier this week, Newcastle were unable to sway the Slovenian international who favoured a move to Manchester. Even though the St James' Park bosses offered Leipzig £4m more than the Red Devils, they failed to win over the player.
Sesko quickly agreed to personal terms and a club-to-club agreement was finalised on Thursday. This allowed him to jet off to Manchester that night with his agent, Elvis Basanovic.
After undergoing a medical at the newly refurbished Carrington, the former Red Bull Salzburg prodigy put pen to paper on his contract, reports the Mirror.
This acquisition takes United's summer transfer window expenditure to a whopping £207.5m, following the signings of forwards Matheus Cunha for £62.5m and Bryan Mbeumo for £71m. Sesko could make his debut next Sunday when the Red Devils host Arsenal at Old Trafford to kick off their 2025-26 Premier League season.
Interestingly, Arsenal had engaged in discussions about a move for the 22 year old earlier this summer. However, the Gunners ultimately opted for Viktor Gyokeres, who was initially United's top target.
Christopher Vivell, Director of Recruitment, played a pivotal role in securing Sesko's signature. He first brought Sesko to Salzburg as a teenager before signing him for Leipzig in 2023.
Manchester United have had their eye on Sesko since he was just 16, initially considering signing him from Slovenian club Domzale before he became part of the Red Bull family.
During his two-season stint in east Germany, Sesko netted 39 goals and provided eight assists in 87 appearances. He's already earned 41 caps for Slovenia, scoring six goals and representing his country at Euro 2024 last summer.
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Sesko's pace and physical presence have drawn comparisons to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who also had a spell at Salzburg before moving to the Bundesliga. Standing at 6ft 5in, United are hopeful that he'll quickly adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
United's attention will now shift to the midfield. Brighton's Carlos Baleba is believed to be on their radar after contact was made through intermediaries this week.
The Red Devils are also looking to offload several players, with Chelsea reportedly in talks to buy Alejandro Garnacho. The arrival of Sesko could signal the end for United striker Rasmus Hojlund, who's available for around £40m.