Manchester United are focusing on signing a new striker and appear to have locked in the top target ahead of the summer transfer deadline.
The final month of the transfer window is looming large, and Manchester United’s focus is still on attacking additions.
Bryan Mbeumo joined United last week, finally completing his protracted move from Brentford.
United snapped up Matheus Cunha early in the window, meaning Ruben Amorim now has two new signings to play in number 10 roles.
The attention now turns to another striker, even if United need to offload some players before pulling off another big-money move.
United have eyed Ollie Watkins, but a deal for the Aston Villa striker does not appear to be the priority in the coming weeks.
Manchester United ramp up Benjamin Sesko move
RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is at the top of United’s striking wish list, and a move appears to be accelerating.
The Athletic report that United will now prioritise a move to sign Sesko, with ‘informal contact’ now initiated with RB Leipzig.
It’s noted that Newcastle United still want to sign Sesko, potentially as a replacement for top Liverpool target Alexander Isak.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg adds that United have held ‘concrete talks’ to sign Sesko, and have even sent staff on site to RB Leipzig’s training camp in Donaueschingen in recent days.
Plettenberg crucially adds that ‘there is and was always a feeling’ that Sesko wanted to join United over other interested clubs.
Newcastle United also sent representatives to RB Leipzig’s training camp in the hope of accelerating their move for the striker.
One interesting note here is that The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell recently spoke on Stretford Paddock and admitted that he had heard of potential RB Leipzig interest in Rasmus Hojlund.
A swap involving Sesko is not being discussed just yet, but it could be one solution as United look to bring the Slovenian to Old Trafford.
“There’s other clubs out there. Do Borussia Dortmund, for example, make a move at some point? You kind of feel like the Bundesliga might suit him if he was to depart. Leipzig was another one that was mentioned to me, and obviously, they’ve got Benjamin Sesko.
“You’re sort of thinking… is that some kind of workable solution there, where each club gets a new striker, but they’re a little bit hypothetical at the moment, I’m not aware of any talks that are ongoing on that front, I just get the sense, when you speak to people, that the Hojlund position isn’t necessarily set in stone,” he added.
Ineos trip to Germany shows Sesko talks are serious
Some would have expected United to potentially take a back seat in terms of adding another striker, following Mbeumo’s move last week.
United have loaned Marcus Rashford to Barcelona, and Al-Nassr want to sign Antony, but exits for Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho still haven’t materialised.
United need to offload attackers and many expected players to leave before another big signing arrives.
Ineos are now pushing ahead to sign Sesko, though, and the fact that representatives travelled out to Germany in recent days shows that this move is becoming serious.
United will have been in dialogue with RB Leipzig from Manchester, but flying representatives out for face-to-face talks suggests that a push is being made for a deal right now.
Former RB Leipzig man Christopher Vivell has surely been involved in these discussions, and his connection to Sesko from Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig is certainly driving United’s pursuit.
Just how United will structure a deal is unclear, but Sesko has become priority number one for Ineos, and we could see a move develop quicker than anticipated.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
