Transfer news, done deals, analysis and gossip
BREAKING: Man Utd agree fee with RB Leipzig for striker Benjamin Sesko
The agreement is worth a guaranteed £65m (€76.5m) with the remainder in add-ons and he'll now complete the formalities
Man Utd 'like' Baleba but Brighton stance makes deal unlikely
West Ham confirm Antonio has left club & Burnley complete Dubravka signing
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
My Club My Passion - tell us why you love your team
Goodbye.
And for those that were on the Ballon d'Or live... Goodbye again!
What a day today has been.
You've probably missed bits and that's fine (me too) - so be sure to check out the summary points at the top of the page.
All the big transfer lines from today are in the post below too.
We'll be back bright and early tomorrow for FriYAY.
See you then.
Today started off slow but went full throttle around lunchtime.
A lot has happened but fear not because we're here to get you up to speed.
Your Thursday headlines:
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United want to sign RB Leipzig's Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, but having already spent £130m this summer on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, they will need to make a sale before the window closes.
Rasmus Hojlund is the obvious candidate to make way, and United are willing to listen to offers of at least £30m.
However, during United's pre-season tour of the United States, Hojlund sought out journalists immediately after his side's draw with Bournemouth in Chicago to say his intention is to stay at Old Trafford.
If Hojlund was sold for £30m, it would represent a £13m loss for United given the forward's 'book value' is £43m as he is two years into the five-year contract he signed.
Aston Villa have confirmed that left-back Lucas Digne has signed a new contract, keeping him with the club until 2028.
The defender has made over 100 appearances for the Villans since his arrival from Everton in 2022.
Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport
It's me again.
Feel like I'm part of the Chuckle Brothers going between lives today.
Bit of contract news to sprinkle in between this Sesko-fest now and then we are on the homestretch.
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
£65,000,000 seems like an extortionate price for a player that scored 13 league goals in the Bundesliga. He may have a great chance at doing well at United, but it seems like another transfer that could go wrong very quickly if he doesn't score goals straightaway.
Rory, London
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Cunha, Mbeumo & (maybe) Sesko all good signings, but if well sell the bomb squad + Hojlund we'll have very little depth or even sensible options from the bench. Maybe Amorim's call is to have a consistent XI with no Europe, but it's a gamble contingent on no injuries
Steve, Fife
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United appointed Christopher Vivell as the club's director of recruitment in 2024.
Vivell previously worked as a scout at RB Salzburg before joining RB Leipzig as their technical director.
Vivell crossed paths with Benjamin Sesko at both Leipzig and Salzburg, and has made no secret of his admiration for the 22 year-old in the past.
"Benjamin Sesko is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player." Vivell told the Bundesliga webiste., external
"Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6'4") height is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile."
It was only last week that Simon Stone reported that Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins were United's top two striker targets, before signalling that Sesko was the number one choice.
How much of a say did Vivell have in that decision?
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Long list of strikers that look good in Bundesliga that have failed in the premier league. Signing for United all but guarantees that route for Sesko. Feel for the guy, been poorly advised wouldn't you say?
Callum, London
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
I feel like people are getting too excited by Manchester United's signings, results and performances will still be similar to last season especially for the first couple game weeks. As much as they struggled to score they also struggled to defend and hold the midfield...
Ak, in the office
Image source, Getty ImagesSlovenian football journalist Izidor Kordic says Benjamin Sesko has a "10 out of 10" mentality and is "perfect for the Premier League".
"He has the potential to be as influential for Manchester United as [Erling] Haaland is for Manchester City," Kordic told BBC Radio Manchester's Total Sport.
"He's the biggest footballer we've ever had in Slovenia but the best thing about him is the best is yet to come. We can only be happy about his future.
"The problem for United is they have Rasmus Hojund at the moment who is the same age as Sesko and was also put in the fire when he came a few years ago. It will be big pressure for Sesko but I think, besides his athleticism and fantastic football skills, his character and mentality is 10 out of 10.
"This is something that makes a difference at the highest level. He is ready to be the number one striker at Man Utd.
"I would say United is his preference because of the stature of the club.
"I think he is made for the Premier League. I don't know if this season he would score 20 or 25 goals - probably more about 10, 12, 15 - because he is not the finished article yet.
"But I think his athleticism and his heading of the ball, build-up play and speed makes him perfect for the Premier League."
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
I just think the United fans are setting expectations too high. They will be better but from 16th to the title? No chance. A European Spot should satisfy them this campaign. Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are the four real contenders.
Abdal, Manchester (Blue side)
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport
Benjamin 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.
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.
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Good signing for Utd, but now the team needs to make sure he gets the service to be able to get the goals. Hoping the money spent on the new attacking force will finally solve this
Scott, Shropshire
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
The signings Man Utd have made so far have been excellent (price aside). But, we can't get carried away here! Man Utd are in TRANSITION and are so far behind the other teams who have completed theirs - Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea. Stick with this manager and in 2026-27, we'll be top 4 contenders again.
Dan, Notts
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport
There is a reason why Manchester United are willing to part with more than £70m to sign the Slovenian from RB Leipzig.
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.
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
When you're big, you're big. Up the Reds.
Charlie, Salford.
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Will be interesting to watch how Sesko does compared to Gyokeres. Arsenal were looking to Sesko first and then changed their focus, lets see who came up on top in this one.
Frank, Widnes
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Sesko is an hell of a signing Baleba next and united are coming for number 21.
Eric, Cumbria
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United also want £50million for winger Alejandro Garnacho, who is attracting interest from Chelsea.
Garnacho is set to leave Old Trafford this summer and United have now set their asking price for the Argentina international.
Having already signed Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha this summer, United are now set to complete a €85million move for striker Benjamin Sesko from Red Bull Leipzig.
Garnacho is likely to find his game time limited at Old Trafford next season and could leave this summer.
Chelsea have an interest in Garnacho and registered an interest in the attacker earlier this summer.
And it now remains to be seen if Chelsea are willing to meet United’s valuation.
