Benjamin Sesko has made a clear choice: and it’s Old Trafford. The 22-year-old striker from Slovenia has told everyone around him that he wants to join Manchester United, turning down a more lucrative offer from Newcastle United. This bombshell has shaken the summer transfer window and left fans across Europe buzzing.
RB Leipzig, Sesko’s current club, received two serious bids. Newcastle were first to the table with an offer of €75 million and an additional €5 million in bonuses. But they didn’t stop there. Just a day later, they came back with a raised bid of €82.5 million, sweetened by another €2.5 million in add-ons. It looked like a done deal.
Then came Manchester United.
The Red Devils offered €75 million plus €10 million in bonuses. While that was slightly lower on paper, Sesko’s heart was set on United. That preference has now made all the difference. Even though Newcastle’s offer was accepted by Leipzig, the German club is now in talks with United to match expectations, because the player wants to wear red.
📰 Also Read This:
Despite Newcastle offering Champions League football and a bigger fee, Sesko’s admiration for Manchester United seems stronger than money or European glory. According to sources close to the deal, personal terms between United and Sesko won’t be a problem.
It’s not just a win for United: it’s a massive rejection for Newcastle, who have been repeatedly snubbed this summer. After already missing out on top targets like James Trafford, Hugo Ekitike, and Joao Pedro, the Magpies are finding it tough to convince elite players to choose them over more historic clubs.
This isn’t the first time Benjamin Sesko has attracted attention from Premier League giants. Arsenal were previously linked with the striker, but they switched their focus to Viktor Gyokeres. Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim, who once worked with Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon, also tried to bring Sesko in, but that deal didn’t materialize either.
Now, Sesko is poised to become a central figure in Manchester United’s revamped front line. Alongside summer arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United fans are starting to dream again. All three had previously been linked with Newcastle, but chose United’s project instead.
For Rasmus Hojlund, the writing might be on the wall. The Danish striker has failed to impress over the last two seasons and could now be sold for just £30 million. If Sesko joins, Hojlund’s future at Old Trafford looks uncertain.
Meanwhile, back at Newcastle, the frustration continues to grow. Their star striker Alexander Isak has reportedly asked to leave, with Liverpool circling. Their first bid of £120 million was turned down, but they’re preparing a second offer. Isak, like Sesko, has been training alone while his future is being decided.
With Ollie Watkins off the table after Aston Villa demanded £60 million, a price United weren’t willing to pay, Newcastle might now see the England forward as their next best option.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager, remains hopeful. He recently told local media, “We are only looking at the best we can get. It’s been a challenging summer, we’ve missed out on many targets, but we’re still in the race.”
“I feel that is the only way we are going to get where we want to go, which is to maximise quality over quantity. That is the way it has always been, the way we work, we try to improve, we have don it pretty well to this point.
“It has been a challenging summer as you know. We have missed out on loads of different targets for different reasons. But we are still very competitive and we are still in there trying to bring good players to the club, that won’t change until the window shuts.”
Still, for now, it’s Manchester United who are smiling. The Sesko saga may not be over yet, but the finish line is close and it’s painted red.
