Manchester United fans have voted with their feet and identified the striker must be signed this summer as the Red Devils’ hunt for a new number nine ramps up.
All in on Sesko
The Peoples Person’s poll – asking fans which striker United should target between RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko and Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, or whether the club should choose to invest in a different striker or position completely – produced a resounding winner.
Out of 3226 responders, 69.7% voted for Sesko as their preferred target while just 20.2% selected Watkins. 4.3% voted for “someone else” up front and 5.6% believe a different position should be a “higher priority” with the club’s remaining budget.
This approach has been mirrored by the Old Trafford hierarchy with United having settled on Sesko as their first-choice option at this stage of the summer window.
Advances were made previously for Liam Delap but the England U-21 international rejected United in favour of a switch to Chelsea. There was also interest in Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike but they have both followed a similar path to Delap, with the former joining Arsenal and the latter signing for Liverpool.
Sesko and Watkins were the two prime candidates remaining on United’s list of targets, despite both striker offering a significantly different profile in terms of age, experience, and skillset.
INEOS have demonstrated an emphasis on younger signings since assuming the helm at Old Trafford last year. And this contrast between the two options – Sesko having just turned 22 and Watkins turning 30 in December – is likely to have played a major role in the decision to move for the Slovenia international.
Sesko is also more of an old-school number nine, offering outstanding physical attributes with an unrelenting desire to provide the finish touch to moves. Watkins is a much more well-rounded forward, capable of dropping deeper to help link play as well as offering a threat in behind.
But Ruben Amorim’s preference in his time with Sporting CP was a striker whose sole focus was goals and providing a threat in behind to help stretch the opposition defence, as demonstrated by Gyokeres’ and the Lions’ roaring success in Lisbon.
Out of the two options, Sesko fits this profile more than Watkins, while also abiding by INEOS’ recruitment model. It’s clear, therefore, that United’s executives are singing from the same hymn sheet as their fanbase with a deal rapidly advancing for Sesko.
A Deal is Close
United are “closing in on a deal” for Sesko after an €85 million (€75m + €10m in add-ons) bid was submitted to Leipzig.
Newcastle have also tabled a proposal worth a comparable amount, albeit with more money up front, but David Ornstein reports the 22-year-old striker is prioritising a move to Old Trafford over St James’ Park – a fact which has been communicated to “all parties”.
There has been no agreement struck with Leipzig yet as negotiations continue but this feels a transfer which is more a case of when as opposed to if at this stage – a development which should delight just under 70% of the club’s fanbase.
Featured image Maja Hitij via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
