Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Benjamin Sesko in a deal that could reach 85 million euros (US$99 million) with RB Leipzig. The striker joins on a five-year deal and is coach Ruben Amorim’s fourth major signing of the summer.
Sesko passed his medical at Old Trafford yesterday morning and was unveiled as a new United player at lunchtime before their pre-season friendly against Fiorentina. United are paying Leipzig 76.5 million euros plus a potential 8.5 million euros in add-ons.
“The history of Manchester United is obviously very special, but what really excites me is the future,” the 22-year-old said. “When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon.”
Photo: AP
“From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created,” he said. “It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben and connecting with my teammates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together.”
The Slovenian international is one of Europe’s most coveted young strikers, and his arrival takes United’s spending to about ￡214 million (US$287.8 million) after the signings of Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Bryan Mbeumo.
Sesko is expected to be the fulcrum of Amorim’s attacking trident, alongside Cunha and Mbeumo.
Photo: AP
“We have followed Benjamin’s career closely; all of our data analysis and research concluded that he has the required qualities and personality to thrive at Manchester United,” said Jason Wilcox, United’s director of soccer. “Working under the guidance of Ruben and our excellent performance team, Benjamin is joining the perfect environment to support him to reach his world-class potential.”
NEWCASTLE FAILURE
Sesko had been among Newcastle summer transfer targets, making a higher offer in transfer fee and wages, only for the player to say Old Trafford was his preferred move.
Newcastle’s failure to land potential signings — they have recruited Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale, but have missed out on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, Sesko, James Trafford to Manchester City and Joao Pedro to Chelsea — has prompted suggestions that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns an 85 percent stake, is not as engaged as it once was.
Newcastle coach Eddie Howe rejected such speculation, but has admitted that Alexander Isak — Newcastle’s star striker who wants a move away from the club — has unsettled his squad.
“The owners are very much engaged, as much as they always have been,” Howe said. “This has been a challenging period where there’ll be a lot of different opinions on different subjects, but I can assure everybody connected with Newcastle that the owners are very much behind the project and fighting every day for the club.”
SESKO’S RECORD
Sesko has been compared to former Paris Saint-Germain and United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic because of his height — both are 1.95m — and flashes of technical skill. He has proved he is capable of scoring spectacular goals, but his statistics for Leipzig have been modest after two years in Germany.
He scored 14 goals in his first season with the club and followed that with 13 last term.
He has six goals in 28 UEFA Champions League games for Leipzig and his previous club, Salzburg. He has tallied 16 goals in 41 games for Slovenia.
Sesko moved to RB Salzburg as a teenager from his native Slovenia, where he was playing for Domzale. He spent two seasons, scoring 22 goals in 44 appearances, on loan at Liefering, Salzburg’s second-tier team.
ATTACKING OPTIONS
Manchester United strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scored just 18 goals between them in all competitions last term, as United fell to a club-record 18 losses in the English Premier League era and its lowest points total of 42.
Only four teams scored fewer goals than United in the top flight last term — including the three relegated clubs.
The move for Sesko comes after United’s reported interest in Liam Delap, Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins.
Sesko is unproven in England, but Cunha and Mbeumo are tried and tested in the Premier League.
Mbeumo scored 20 league goals for Brentford last season, with only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland netting more.
Cunha scored 17 in all competitions and helped Wolves avoid relegation last term.
Additional reporting by AP
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