Manchester United’s Pursuit of Benjamin Sesko
As the new Premier League season approaches, Manchester United finds itself in a competitive race to acquire RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Newcastle United also vying for his signature.
Time is Running Out
With less than two weeks remaining until the season opener against Arsenal on August 17, Manchester United must move quickly if they hope to secure a new striker before the match at Old Trafford.
Newcastle’s Advantage
Benjamin Sesko is at the top of Manchester United’s transfer wishlist. However, Newcastle has taken the lead by making formal offers for the Slovenian international. Reports from Sky Sports indicate that their latest proposal was valued at £69.7 million, which includes a fixed fee alongside additional performance-related bonuses.
While Newcastle pursues Sesko actively, Manchester United is reportedly waiting until they receive clear indications that he prefers a move to Old Trafford before making their bid.
Transfer Market Strategy
The summer transfer window has seen Manchester United adopt a more strategic approach to player acquisitions. After successfully completing the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of June, expectations grew for further quick signings, especially with interest in Bryan Mbeumo shortly thereafter. However, negotiations with Brentford extended over weeks, with Mbeumo not finalizing his transfer until July 21.
Due to these experiences, United is taking a cautious stance on the Sesko bid, opting not to rush in response to Newcastle’s aggressive pursuit.
Management’s Commitment
Chief Executive Omar Berrada has emphasized the club’s intent to avoid overspending in the transfer market. In a June interview, he stated, “He [Matheus Cunha] was an important one to get done. We’re going to do our best to do more signings quickly. Sometimes when you’re not quick, it’s because you’re negotiating and you’re trying to make sure you get the right value for money. So being efficient or quick isn’t necessarily the best thing for the club.”
With several years of excessive spending behind them, Berrada is keen on ensuring that United sticks to prudent financial practices this summer. The organization has made sensible recruitment decisions so far and is likely to maintain this cautious approach despite Newcastle’s early negotiations for Sesko.
Ultimately, even with pressing needs for a striker—especially one with Sesko’s impressive track record of 21 goals for RB Leipzig last season—Manchester United understands the importance of balancing their financial strategy to safeguard the progress they have made this summer.
