Man United is looking at signing a new striker in this transfer season. They’ve already added their attack with some key additions, like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, both of whom are anticipated to bring increased creativity and flair to the team’s offensive play. Additionally, Diego Leon looks like a promising player who could serve as backup to Patrick Dorgu at left wing-back next season.
Recently, there have been rumors linking United with Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, but it seems that a deal is not on the horizon. The Athletic reports that United first showed interest in Sesko when he was just 16, playing for Domzale, and they re-engaged in talks about him last summer. However, it appears that he’s not currently a priority for the team. The cost of signing him—considering both the transfer fee and wages—has been deemed too high given United’s budget constraints, particularly after spending around £133.5 million to acquire Cunha and Mbeumo.
While the club is expected to pay only a fraction of this amount upfront, they still have ongoing payments for previous signings. Therefore, any new spending could largely depend on player sales. They are set to save nearly £16 million in wages due to Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Barcelona, but so far, they haven’t made significant progress in offloading other players. Although Antony is pushing for a move to Real Betis, he might end up on another loan deal.
There’s interest from Juventus in Jadon Sancho, who has agreed to a pay cut for a potential transfer, but nothing concrete has happened yet. Alejandro Garnacho could provide some financial return, but his wish to remain in the Premier League may stall any possible departure.
Leipzig is reportedly asking a hefty £87 million for Sesko this summer, and considering his 13 goals in the Bundesliga last season, many believe the club would be better off exploring other options rather than spending so much on the 22-year-old.
Given their recent successful signings, United might want to look at Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta instead. Mateta has scored 27 goals in the Premier League since Oliver Glasner took over as manager at Palace last February, placing him among the top scorers during that period, alongside stars like Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, and Mohamed Salah. He could be a smart addition for United and may be available for around £40 million, especially with less than two years left on his contract.
