Benjamin Sesko to Man United: Dream Signing or Another Risky Gamble? My Take on the Hype

Okay, football fans, let’s talk about the latest transfer saga: Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United. The RB Leipzig striker’s name is everywhere, with rumors that United are going all in to land the Sesko Newcastle snatch him. As a United fan who’s been through the highs and lows of our transfer window rollercoasters,here’s my take on the Sesko rumors. Why it’s got me excited, why it’s giving me pause, and what it could mean for United. Let’s dive in.

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First off, Sesko’s no ordinary striker. He's 22, built like a tank at 6ft 4in, and has a knack for goals that’s got everyone comparing him to Erling Haaland. Last season, he bagged 21 goals across all competitions for Leipzig, including some absolute screamers like that rocket against Bayern Munich. He’s quick, lethal in the box, and can hold up play. Basically, the kind of No. 9 United have been crying out for since forever. With United only scoring a measly 44 Premier League goals last season (worst in the top half), Ruben Amorim’s desperate for a proper striker. Sesko’s been on United’s radar since he was 16 at Domzale, and now reports are saying they’re advancing”l on a deal worth around £60-70m, with Leipzig open to talks if the price is right.

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What’s got me hyped is how Sesko could fit into Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. United already splashed £130m on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer, and adding Sesko would give us a front three that could tear defenses apart. Picture Sesko leading the line, with Mbeumo’s pace on the right and Cunha’s flair on the left, all backed by Bruno Fernandes’ wizardry. It’s the kind of attack that could get us back into the top four, especially since Amorim’s got a history of turning strikers into stars (look at Viktor Gyökeres at Sporting). Plus, United’s head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, knows Sesko from their Salzburg days and calls him a special player with lots of potential.

But here’s where I get a bit restless. Sesko’s not a sure thing. His 13 Bundesliga goals last season were decent, but Leipzig had a rough year, finishing seventh, and he didn’t exactly set the league on fire. Some Arsenal fans were buzzing when they were linked with him earlier, but their execs backed off, saying his £70m price tag and lack of Premier League experience made him a gamble. United’s been burned before with young strikers. Rasmus Højlund’s 14 goals in 62 Premier League games for £72m still stings. Speaking of Højlund, there’s talk Leipzig want him on loan as part of the Sesko deal, which could mean we’re swapping one unproven striker for another.

Then there’s Newcastle in the mix. They’ve already bid £69.8m for Sesko, and with Alexander Isak possibly off to Liverpool for £150m, they’ve got cash to burn. Word online right now is Sesko’s leaning toward United, but his agent’s playing hardball, using Newcastle’s offer to drive up the price. Some fans are saying Sesko’s camp posted a cryptic Instagram hint at Old Trafford, which got United fans losing their minds, but I’m not buying into that hype just yet. Newcastle can offer Champions League football, which United can’t after our 15th-place disaster last season. Sesko’s agent even said he’ll only move to a special club with a special project, and I’m worried United’s rebuild might not look as good as Newcastle’s right now.

Photo Credit: Florian Plettenberg

Another red flag? Sesko’s turned United down before. Back in 2023, he picked Leipzig over us because he wanted a club with a similar playing style to Salzburg, saying he didn’t want to go through a whole learning process again. That makes me wonder if he’s fully sold on Amorim’s project now, especially with no European football to tempt him.

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So, where do I stand?..
Sesko’s got all the tools to be a United legend height, speed, and a nose for goal. If Amorim can unlock his potential, we’re looking at a striker who could fire us back to glory as part of Project 150 (that’s United’s plan to win the Premier League by 2028). But the £70m price tag, his inconsistency in Germany, and the risk of another Højlund situation have me nervous. If we sign him and keep Højlund, maybe they can push each other to improve, but we’d need to offload someone like Antony or Garnacho to balance the books. Honestly, I’d rather see us go for a proven Premier League scorer like Ollie Watkins, but Villa’s not budging on him.