Postpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time
Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport
Maybe we do have a story to bring you away from Benjamin Sesko after all...
One that could result in a bit of a domino effect, you'd think.
Summary
Transfer news, done deals, analysis & gossip
Report: Benjamin Sesko 'wants' Man Utd with talks 'closing in'
Man Utd and Newcastle both bid for RB Leipzig striker
BBC Sport has been told striker is keen on move to Red Devils
Gossip: Both clubs could move for Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson if they miss out on Slovenia international
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My Club My Passion - tell us why you love your team
Postpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time
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If United sell Højlund to fund Sesko then they'd still be left with only one (young & inexperienced) out & out striker. Sir Alex had Cole, Yorke, Sheringham, Solskjaer. Højlund was fed scraps... so he starved! United's fortunes will only change when they learn to pass to their Number 9.
Chris
How does Sesko compare to other young strikers?published at 11:34 British Summer Time
Emlyn Begley
BBC SportManchester United and Newcastle United have both made big-money bids for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and are waiting for an answer.
There's a reason why both the Premier League clubs are willing to part with more than £70m to sign the Slovenian.
The 22-year-old striker is Europe's top scorer currently under the age of 23 playing in Europe's top five leagues.
Since August 2023 Sesko has scored 39 league goals, one more than Jude Bellingham in second place.
Big, strong, quick and a clinical finisher, Sesko could be a difference-maker wherever he ends up.
Image source, BBC Sportget involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:28 British Summer Time
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Imagine if Real Madrid finished 15th and let’s say Valencia finished 5th and got CL football. If they were both to go in for the same player in the summer transfer window, which club do you think that player would choose?
Ben, Rochdale
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time
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On Nick from Sheffield's point about Man U can only get better - if they get any worse, they'll be playing Oxford twice next season.
Cal, Newcastle
Would Man Utd and Sesko be a good fit?published at 11:17 British Summer Time
Emlyn Begley
BBC SportBenjamin Sesko would be a likely starter at one of the world's biggest clubs if he joined Manchester United and could be part of an all-new front line with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Rasmus Hojlund has only scored 14 league goals in two seasons and by contrast, Sesko has 27 Bundesliga goals in that time since joining RB Leipzig from RB Salzburg.
He could also get plenty of service from the three players nearest him if he was the focal point up top.
Bruno Fernandes created more chances than any other Premier League player last season - 91 - with his team-mates scoring 10 of them while Mbuemo created 70 and Cunha 57.
So why might Sesko not want to move to Old Trafford?
For one, United are not in any European competition this season and finished 15th last season, their worst campaign since they were relegated in 1973-74.
Ruben Amorim has been given the chance to rebuild this summer but a bad start could see a managerial change too.
And Sesko would have to buck a fairly dramatic trend. There is a very strong argument that Portugal midfielder Fernandes is the only outright success United have had in the transfer market since 2016.
Image source, BBC SportPostpublished at 11:15 British Summer Time
Ben Ramsdale
BBC SportThanks Joe.
You'll be pleased (or fuming) to know that there's plenty more Sesko chat to come as we head towards lunchtime.
Maybe we'll get a done deal at some point today as well? I feel like I say that every time I'm on here...
On the bright side, for those tiring of transfer chat (not saying I am) - this time next week, focus will be shifting to previewing a brand new Premier League season!
Postpublished at 11:07 British Summer Time
Joe Rindl
BBC SportThanks Constantin.
We should have some video clips of Constantin's analysis coming shortly, too.
Right, I think I'll take my break now. Thanks for all the thumbs up. Here's Ben Ramsdale...
'It would be third time Vivell had signed Sesko'published at 11:00 British Summer Time
Constantin Eckner
German football writer on The Football News ShowIf this deal goes through, it would be the third time Christopher Vivell has signed Benjamin Sesko.
He brought the striker to RB Salzburg, and then in 2022, he convinced him to join RB Leipzig.
Vivell is now the director of recruitment at Manchester United.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:56 British Summer Time
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NUFC could do a lot worse than taking a punt on Hojlund. Howe has excellent man management skills and he just needs a bit of belief and a fresh start. Someone like Anthony Gordon would thrive with him and he'd be good value at £25m.
Alastair, Darlington
'Sesko has forced this Premier League move'published at 10:49 British Summer Time
Constantin Eckner
German football writer on The Football News ShowBenjamin Sesko is convinced of his abilities and has forced this move to the Premier League.
If he can score 15 or 20 goals next season, he has already proven some of the doubters wrong.
'Sesko doesn't want to be back-up'published at 10:46 British Summer Time
Constantin Eckner
German football writer on The Football News ShowIf Eddie Howe doesn't change his Newcastle system, then Benjamin Sesko would share playing time with Alexander Isak.
Someone like Sesko with his price tag and confidence, he doesn't want to be a back-up solution.
Watch live Sesko transfer analysis!published at 10:41 British Summer Time
BBC SportWe're live in the BBC studio with in-depth analysis on the Benjamin Sesko saga.
Manchester United and Newcastle United fans you'll want to tune into this.
Hugh Ferris is joined by Nesta McGregor and German football expert Constantin Eckner.
Get watching by clicking the play icon at the top of this page!
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time
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On Franks point about safe bets. Newcastle have come above Man U twice in the Prem era, last two seasons. For me the safer bet is the much bigger club. If this was picking between Man U and Arsenal or Liverpool maybe, but Newcastle are far from risk free!
James, Manchester
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:34 British Summer Time
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Everyone singing Howe's praises..... Amorim is younger than Howe and has won 3 times the trophies. Sesko knows that Man United have a higher ceiling than Newcastle and can only get better.
Nick, Sheffield
Former Newcastle scout criticises their transfer market approachpublished at 10:29 British Summer Time
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle United's former club scout Paul Montgomery has criticised what he perceives as a lack of urgency and assertiveness in the transfer market this summer.
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Montgomery queried the club's ability to sell the project to their top targets in the way that other ambitious sides seem able to do.
"I would question Newcastle's lack of aggression in the transfer market," he said. "In the modern day, you have to be aggressive when you want to sign a player. When you identify a player and he's your man, then you have to get to him, get to his face, sit with him and tell him he's the best thing since sliced bread.
"Or alternatively, get him on a private jet, get him to that stadium and show him the videos of the fans when Newcastle won the cup to show the passion of the club. That's what sells the club, and to do that, you have to be aggressive. And sadly, I just don't see that with Newcastle at the moment.
"They messed up signing young James Trafford for over a year when they could have easily finalised something. And now you have a situation whereby Newcastle could lose arguably one of the best strikers in Europe, if not the world.
"That is really disheartening for the fans who believed that they were going to go places."
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:26 British Summer Time
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The pitch for Newcastle: "Isak had similar stats as you, at the same age. Due to the great coaches here, after only 3 years, he's one of the best strikers in the world. Oh yeah, and Champions League football and we wont be in a relegation battle."
Aaron, Hull
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time
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Sesko's decision has to be about risk. Newcastle are a safer bet, but maybe less to gain. Utd are a massive club, but a lot of players have hit the rocks there.
Frank
Sesko compared with other summer signingspublished at 10:21 British Summer Time
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United have already spent £133.5m on forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer - signing Benjamin Sesko would take that total up to over £200m.
How many goals did they score last season?
- Sesko - 13 league goals (21 all comps)
- Cunha - 15 league goals (17 all comps)
- Mbeumo - 20 league goals (20 all comps)
The trio scored 48 league goals between them last season. United scored 44 goals in the Premier League last term.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:16 British Summer Time
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@Simon from Manchester, it’s well known Sesko would’ve been the Isak replacement. But nonetheless, there’s a video where Sesko says he supported Man United growing up, that’s all that needs to be said there…question is why didn’t Newcastle's recruitment team realise that? We’ve been used to drum up Man Utd interest.
Ollie, Newcastle
