Man Utds number one target - is this finally the summer of Sesko?

Man Utds number one target - is this finally the summer of Sesko?

"Hes good in front of goal. He has a good attitude. He is relentless."

You can see why Premier League teams are interested in £70m-rated Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

Despite only being 22, it feels as if the Slovenia international has been linked to English football for years - so could this be the summer he makes the move?

Manchester United have made him their top striker target, while Newcastle United also want him - if Alexander Isak leaves.

He had been strongly linked to Arsenal for some time before they went for Sportings Viktor Gyokeres. Plus Chelsea, too (though who isnt...?).

Big, strong, quick, good in the air and a fine finisher, Sesko has been compared to Erling Haaland - and not just because they both played for Salzburg.

So why are so many clubs being linked with him?

Sesko is a goalscorer. In fact, nobody in his age range has scored more goals in the past two seasons (more on that later).

But last season he became more of an all-rounder, with 9.7% of his touches coming in the opposition box - compared with 17% the season before.

He got involved more on both wings and further back into midfield.

He was one of the fastest strikers in the Bundesliga at 35.7km/h - and had the best aerial success rate of strikers involved in at least 60 of them.

A recruitment specialist working at the highest level recently spoke to BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell about Sesko, who stands at 6ft 5in tall.

"Hes so athletic, hes big, physical and strong," said the anonymous source.

"I think the physicality of the Premier League wont overawe him.

"When you look at some players in Europe, where the tempo is slower, you see them struggle to transition to bigger leagues.

"The Bundesliga is one of the big three in the world, but when you look at transitioning in big leagues he has the physical capabilities to do it."

And what are some other qualities of Sesko, who idolised former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was younger?

"He is clinical, he can drop in into space," said the recruitment expert.

"One of his strengths is getting the ball quickly. He can hold it, hold defenders off, he can give it to the winger, he can give it to the 10.

"Hes good in front of goal. He has a good attitude. He is relentless."

"You wouldnt expect him to hit the ground running straight away, but in six to 12 months he will be fine and youve got yourself a very good player."

Central European football expert Lukas Vrablik added: "I think Sesko has the quality to play in one of Europes best sides. He can be a big asset. At the same time hes a player who will develop.

"Hes not the finished product yet. Right now he is one of the best strikers in Europe, but he still has room for improvement."

Sesko has spent the past two seasons in Germany with Leipzig, having joined them from sister club Salzburg in 2023.

That was a deal that had been agreed and announced in the summer of 2022 - making him unavailable for any English sides.

He has scored 39 goals in 87 games in all competitions in those two seasons (plus eight assists), with 27 in 64 in the league.

Six of those goals have come in the Champions League.

Since moving to Germany, Sesko is the top goalscorer currently aged under 23 in all competitions, of players who are based in Europes top five leagues.

He is one above Real Madrids Jude Bellingham and five clear of Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £100m this summer.

"Last season, I dont think he was as good as the season before - but that was also influenced by Leipzig not being so good as a team," added Vrablik.

"There are big expectations for him as a striker. There is big hype around him."

Sesko has shown clinical finishing in his time in Germany, too.

Only six forwards have scored more goals in the Bundesliga in the past two seasons, even though Sesko is 16th for expected goals, 14th on shots and 22nd on touches in the opposition box.

And he is lethal from long range too, with 36.8% of his shots - and 23.1% of his goals - coming from outside the box. Both are higher than any Bundesliga striker to score 12 or more goals last season.

All of Seskos senior football so far has come for Red Bull teams in Europe, having left home aged 16 for Salzburg.

He played two seasons for Salzburgs feeder club - Liefering - in Austrias second tier, scoring 22 goals in 44 matches.

Some 21 goals of those came in 2020-21, having only netted once the season before.

And from there he played for Salzburg, bagging 29 goals in 79 games in two full seasons. He won the league both seasons, plus the Austrian Cup, scoring in the final win over Ried.

Slovenian journalist Miran Zore said in 2024: "We kind of expected his success but no-one knew he was so special, except his agent, Elvis Basanovic, who tried to convince people about his potential.

"He used to send messages to scouts and directors, saying, this is the next goal machine.

"When he was struggling in Salzburg at the start, people were asking his agent, wheres this goal machine. Now, everyone is laughing about it."

In 2022, Sesko himself was quoted as saying: "My team-mates at the club tell me that Haaland and I are very similar, especially in terms of speed. Most of them even tell me that Im better than him."

Manchester City striker Haaland (who left Salzburg before Seskos debut) netted the same amount of goals for the Austrian club as Sesko - but the Norwegian only needed 27 matches, 34% of the amount Sesko played.

So maybe his team-mates were just being nice...

Even so, that comment alone would suggest some degree of self-assurance.

"I hear from people in Slovenia who worked with him that hes a really hard-working guy - and really confident," said Vrablik.

"He has a healthy confidence, which is really important for a striker."

For his country, Sesko has scored 16 goals in 41 games and featured for them at Euro 2024. Only three players have ever scored more for the former Yugoslav nation.

Speaking in 2024, former Slovenia international Miran Pavlin said: "He has to focus on playing well and the transfer will come - if not this year, then in one or two years.

"He has the potential to be one of the top 10 strikers in the world, for sure."

There is no certainty that Sesko will leave Leipzig.

However, they have failed to qualify for Europe this season and have started a summer rebuild under new boss Ole Werner.

BBC Sport was told Sesko has an informal agreement with his club that he can leave if an elite team offer about £70m.

When Sesko joined Leipzig from sister club Salzburg in 2023 he had a release clause of £55m - but last summer he signed a new long-term deal.

Reports suggest that also has a release clause, which has climbed.

That begs the question of who could afford him? The answer is: not many teams bar Premier League sides or Saudi clubs.

"Hes well positioned to make a difference at a top club. Its just a matter of time until he moves," said Vrablik. "But maybe not this summer.

"I think the price paid a part [on why he hasnt moved yet]. There are not many clubs who can afford him right now, which is a problem if he wants to move on.

"I wouldnt be surprised to see him stay at Leipzig another season. It might be good for his development if he can repeat the season from before Euro 2024.

"It depends on the market, maybe some departure would bring this effect. I expected him to end up at Arsenal."

Arsenal were interested in Sesko before signing Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, in a deal worth up to £64m (73m euros ) - so still big money, but slightly cheaper.

Manchester United had put Sesko and Aston Villas England striker Ollie Watkins at the top of their list, but are now focusing on the Slovenian and have spoken to Leipzig.

United have already spent £130m on forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer, but still have money to spend.

Rasmus Hojlund is Uniteds other striker.

But Newcastle also want Sesko - if their own star striker leaves.

Swede Isak was not part of their pre-season tour to Asia and BBC Sport was told he is looking at his options.

Liverpool are said to be interested in Isak but a move would certainly cost in excess of £100m.

That fee would, in turn, leave Newcastle able to afford Sesko.

Callum Wilson left St James Park on a free transfer this summer, meaning 21-year-old William Osula would be their only senior striker if Isak did leave.

Unlike Manchester United, a move to the Magpies would enable Sesko to play in the Champions League next season.

As would Chelsea - who have also been linked.

However, the Blues have already signed strikers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro for a combined £90m this summer, so would need to offload Nicolas Jackson and perhaps others.

Half of Europes elite teams - including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan - have also been reportedly keen in the past too.

But those links have gone cold.

Will it be the same for those Premier League clubs currently in the mix for his signature - or is this finally the summer Sesko makes his move?