Manchester United and Newcastle have submitted opening bids to RB Leipzig as they vie for the signature of highly rated striker Benjamin Sesko this summer.
The Premier League duo are set to battle for the Slovenian forward to bolster their respective attacking options ahead of the new season, although their motivations differ.
For Newcastle United, securing the services of Sesko is seen as a priority move, paving the way for the sale of Alexander Isak, who has already informed the club of his desire to leave this summer, with Liverpool lurking.
At Manchester United, Ruben Amorim is plotting a restructured attack ahead of his first full season in charge, and the club is backing him to orchestrate a revival and capitalise on the benefit of limited fixtures.
With both English clubs eager to outmuscle each other for the deal, it sets up a compelling transfer saga, one that Leipzig and the striker’s entourage have long desired.
RB Leipzig Steers the Benjamin Sesko Saga in Their Desired Direction
Earlier in the summer, Arsenal had shown serious intent to sign Sesko following initial contact over 18 months ago. However, talks stalled due to a disparity in player valuation between both clubs.
Arsenal viewed Sesko as a talent with massive upside and tabled an opening bid of around €70 million. Leipzig, however, regard him as a future superstar and demanded at least €90 million guaranteed, excluding any add-ons.
The negotiations dragged, with Arsenal waiting for Sesko and his representatives to push Leipzig’s hand. But with the player’s camp focused more on the financials, things ground to a halt.
When Arsenal eventually pivoted towards Viktor Gyökeres and looked set to move on, Leipzig reportedly made overtures for the Gunners to return, but by then, talks for Gyökeres were already at an advanced stage, leaving no room for a U-turn.
Later in the window, it emerged that Sesko’s contract includes a clause allowing Leipzig to sell him to select clubs at a reduced fee, somewhere in the region of €70–80 million plus €5–10 million in add-ons.
However, a sudden spike in demand inflated his valuation again—and now Leipzig have the transfer saga exactly where they always wanted it.
What Changed in the Benjamin Sesko Saga?
The dominoes began to fall when Liverpool hijacked Newcastle’s move for Hugo Ekitike, followed by Isak’s bombshell request to leave.
The Swedish striker’s desire to move, ironically to Liverpool, was likely influenced by their acquisition of Ekitike, a player who could have replaced him at St. James’ Park.
Adding further intrigue is the ripple effect of Viktor Gyökeres’ move to Arsenal, which may have contributed to Isak’s decision as he seeks to remain the undisputed face of Sweden’s attack.
Isak, who arrived at Newcastle United in the summer of 2022, has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world. He has scored 52 goals across all competitions in the last two seasons and was regarded as the best player in Sweden, until Gyökeres returned in 2022.
Gyökeres, who scored 54 goals and provided 12 assists for Sporting CP last season, has already emerged as the hottest striker for Sweden. Having registered almost as many goal involvements as Isak in half the number of games, his move to Arsenal only amplified his status.
The moment that deal was concluded, Isak must have felt the pressure—realising that remaining at Newcastle United could see him fall further behind. With Liverpool’s interest, he now has the opportunity to rival his countryman on a bigger stage.
But for Newcastle United, a replacement must be in place before his exit, and Sesko fits the bill both in age and potential. His profile makes him a no-brainer for the Magpies.
They would have had a smoother path, especially with news of the reduced price tag coinciding with their interest, but Manchester United’s entry into the race has complicated matters, turning it into a full-blown bidding war.
United’s intent to sign a striker could force out one of Rasmus Højlund or Joshua Zirkzee, although the former has expressed a desire to stay and fight for his place, the latter is currently not attracting suitors as he is currently nursing a muscle injury.
Manchester United and Newcastle Submit Opening Offers
Newcastle were first to act, submitting a bid worth a total of €90 million (€80m fixed plus €10m in add-ons) to Leipzig on Monday, formally opening negotiations.
Manchester United responded the following day with a slightly lower package worth €85 million including bonuses. Leipzig are yet to respond to either offer, but are expected to take their time and observe how far both suitors are willing to go.
Sesko, 22, has scored 39 goals and contributed eight assists in his two seasons with Leipzig, and notably, has not missed a single game through injury in that time.
With both bids now brushing close to Leipzig’s valuation, the saga could come down to Sesko’s personal choice, and that decision might be a war of its own.
At Manchester United, he could lead the line, but that could change quickly if either Højlund or Zirkzee hits form. In contrast, Newcastle United offers him an uncontested role as the face of the project.
The Magpies also boast European football, something United currently lacks, and are perceived to be the more stable project of the two.
Eddie Howe’s side will also be more desperate to complete this deal—not only because they are currently without a striker, but also for the sake of pride, having already lost out in several transfer battles this summer.
Hugo Ekitike, James Trafford, João Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and a few others have all turned down moves to the club in favour of elsewhere.
As a result, they may be willing to throw everything into this pursuit, potentially at the expense of Manchester United, whose only selling point at this time is history, one the club itself is fast becoming.
While Leipzig may have engineered this saga to extract maximum value, the final say lies with Benjamin Sesko—and all eyes are now on the striker as he weighs the best path for his burgeoning career.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
