Does Man United Really Need to Spend Big? New €85m Bid for Benjamin Sesko Sparks Debate
Manchester United have formally submitted an €85 million offer, comprising €75m guaranteed and €10m in performance-based add-ons, for Benjamin Sesko, the rising Slovenian star at RB Leipzig. This sudden escalation, revealed just hours after Newcastle United tabled a €90m package, has lit up the summer transfer window. As the race intensifies, many fans and analysts are left asking a difficult question: Do Manchester United really need to go this big again?
Sources close to the club believe Sesko is interested in the move, encouraging the Red Devils to proceed with an official proposal. Still, the staggering fee raises eyebrows, especially after a string of high-cost signings that haven’t always delivered at Old Trafford.
A Transfer Tug‑of‑War For Sesko
Newcastle’s initial bid of around €80 million plus €10m in bonuses was swiftly countered by Manchester United’s own €85m proposal. Leipzig are believed to be satisfied with both packages, putting the decision now squarely in Sesko’s hands.
The 22-year-old didn’t train with the main group today, instead working individually, adding fuel to the speculation that he’s on the verge of a move. Newcastle, though, reportedly have the edge due to their promise of Champions League football and a clearer path to becoming a first-choice striker.
United’s internal strategy, meanwhile, has been reactive. Fabrizio Romano reports that their bid was driven largely by Newcastle’s sudden movement and a belief that Sesko still has his heart set on Old Trafford. Critics argue this is another classic case of United reacting to market pressure, rather than planning proactively.
Do United Actually Need Another Young Expensive Striker?
That’s the million-euro question. With Rasmus Højlund already on the books and the club still managing a bloated wage bill, some fans feel United’s money would be better spent reinforcing their midfield or a striker who has a little experience.
Šeško is clearly a top talent, having scored 18 goals for Leipzig last season across all competitions. His aerial dominance, movement off the ball, and composure in front of goal have drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland. Does he fix United’s broader attacking problem, which has more to do with creativity and control in midfield than simply finishing? It could be possible with the acquisitions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha now at the helm, but is it guaranteed? It’s not about Šeško’s potential, it’s about whether this is the smartest way for United to spend €85m right now.
Šeško’s Dilemma: Prestige or Project?
Sesko finds himself with two appealing but very different options. At Newcastle, he’s likely to start immediately in the Champions League, especially with Alexander Isak pushing for a move to Liverpool. He’d be the focal point of a young, ambitious team that plays on the front foot.
United, on the other hand, offers the global prestige, higher wages, and the platform that comes with wearing the famous red shirt. However, they currently lack the elite-level structure Newcastle has rapidly built. Add to that their absence from the Champions League or any European competition this season, and it’s not as straightforward a choice as it might have been a few years ago.
Multiple sources, including TeamTalk and FourFourTwo, suggest that Newcastle are closer to sealing personal terms, while Leipzig leans toward accepting their offer. United’s bid shows they’re still in it, and willing to go toe-to-toe financially.
The Bigger Picture: Could This Move Backfire?
If Manchester United land Sesko, it could finally give manager Ruben Amorim the consistent goal threat they’ve lacked since the prime days of Robin van Persie, that is however, a big if. The club has walked this road before big-money signings that looked right on paper but failed to deliver, from Romelu Lukaku to Antony.
There’s also a ripple effect. Should Newcastle complete the Sesko deal, they’re expected to greenlight Isak’s move to Liverpool, adding another layer of complexity to the Premier League’s striker shuffle. United missing out on Sesko would intensify pressure on the board to pivot fast, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has reportedly been scouted as an alternative.
Newcastle seem to know exactly what they want, and why. United? Not quite, and in 2025, after a decade of trial-and-error spending, that’s what worries fans most.
Final Thoughts
As of now, the ball is in Benjamin Sesko’s court. He has two lucrative offers on the table, both from clubs that desperately want him to lead their next chapter. United’s €85m bid is loud, aggressive, and determined, but it might also be another expensive reaction in a pattern that fans have seen too many times before.
The question remains: Is this truly what Manchester United need right now? Or will this be remembered as yet another flashy transfer that failed to fix the real problems?.
