How much Benjamin Sesko deal will cost Manchester United this summer
Man Utd have identified their new priority summer transfer target and here is how much he would cost.
Manchester United are pursuing a deal for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko in the final month of the summer transfer window.
Ruben Amorim prioritised the addition of a striker at the start of the window, with Liam Delap identified as their priority target for the position before he moved to Chelsea. United also expressed an interest in both Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike before their respective moves to both Arsenal and Liverpool.
United spent big to bring both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to the club, but Amorim still wants to reinforce his attack with a striker. Sesko is now viewed as the most attainable target after Aston Villa reiterated Ollie Watkins is not for sale before deadline day. Amorim's preference was to sign a Premier League-proven goalscorer but United are now prepared to take a risk on a player who is younger than Rasmus Hojlund.
How much will Benjamin Sesko cost
Benjamin Sesko only signed a new contract with RB Leipzig last summer and the Bundesliga club will not be pressured into a sale this summer. The striker's deal runs until June 2029, though it included a gentleman's agreement that Leipzig would allow him to leave for any club he deemed 'elite' as long as they matched his €80million-€90m (£69m to £78m) valuation.
However, it is now understood Leipzig have lowered their asking price to a guaranteed €75m (£64.8m) with the rest of the fee comprised of realistic add-ons and a percentage of any future sale.
It means United will still likely need to raise some of the transfer fee through player sales, though if they are confident of moving certain players on, then they could buy Sesko first and spend the rest of the window focusing on exits. This might not be the wisest option, given their bargaining position will be significantly weakened if prospective buyers are aware of just how badly they need the money. From a Profit and Sustainability perspective, although the £64.8m fee would be a huge expense, United will look to amortise the transfer over several years, just as they have done with other major transfers in recent years.
Sesko has scored 39 goals and notched eight assists since he joined RB Leipzig from RB Salzburg two years ago, and has netted 16 goals in 41 appearances for the Slovenia national side. There would still be a significant risk attached to a deal for Sesko, with Amorim understood to favour a move for a striker who is already proven in the English top-flight.
However, United view the youngster as a player with enormous untapped potential, who could be moulded into their main man for the best part of a decade if everything goes according to plan. There is also room for Sesko to be a much wiser investment than the similar fee it would likely have cost to sign 29-year-old Ollie Watkins.
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