Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
The Old Trafford side have been battling Newcastle United for the 22-year-old striker, with both teams submitting offers.
Newcastle initially tabled €75million plus €5m in add-ons, before raising that on Monday to at least €80m. Within 24 hours, Manchester United made a proposal of their own worth €75m plus €10m.
Newcastle have continued working to secure the transfer and on Tuesday a bid of €82.5m plus €2.5m was accepted by Leipzig.
But Sesko wants to join Manchester United and all parties are now aware of that, as talks advance in an effort to satisfy Leipzig’s expectations. While there is no club-to-club agreement yet, the situation is moving in that direction.
The Slovenia forward’s preference comes despite Newcastle’s readiness to pay a higher fee and provide Champions League football. Sesko’s decision appears to have swung the situation in Manchester United’s direction.
Sesko scored 21 goals in all competitions last season for Leipzig and has recorded 39 goals and eight assists in 87 appearances for the German club since signing from RB Salzburg in 2023.
Ruben Amorim’s side also admired Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and explored the costs of a potential deals when considering a move for Sesko. The Manchester United hierarchy was reluctant to pay what they thought it may have taken for Villa to consider doing business.
United had shown interest in a deal for Liam Delap earlier this summer, but the striker opted to join Chelsea from Ipswich Town.
The club have also brought in forwards Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, while teenage left-back Diego Leon has joined from Cerro Porteno.
