Manchester United’s need for a striker can be clearly discerned from the fact that the Red Devils have netted a mere 38 goals in the Premier League so far this season, less than 15 other teams in the division.
Rasmus Hojlund has been the biggest disappointment given he had ended his debut season as the team’s top goalscorer. Naturally expectations were sky-high ahead of his sophomore campaign.
However, the 22-year-old has netted only thrice in the English top-flight and eight overall, a hugely disappointing tally and his recent form has been truly atrocious.
Which is why Ruben Amorim is open to letting him go in the summer with INEOS even open to a swap deal or a loan exit, such is their desperation.
United need a new striker
Finding a suitable replacement will not be easy especially if Europa League success eludes the club given the financial mess the club finds itself in currently.
Head of recruitment Christopher Vivell has proven to be extremely shrewd in the market as seen from the acquisition of Sekou Kone and as per Sport Bild, he is personally pushing for the signing of Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig.
He was present for the club’s previous Bundesliga fixture to check on the Slovenian, who joined the RB group due to Vivell’s influence.
However, it will not be an easy deal to crack given the 21-year-old’s importance to Leipzig. Sesko has 19 goals and six assists this season while last term, he managed 18 goals and two assists, which shows his improvement.
Having signed him for €24 million in 2023, the Bundesliga side are hoping to sell him for a record amount of €100 million with the who’s who of European football tailing the Slovenia international.
Vivell watching Sesko
“Interested parties have long been vying for a summer signing. And the Saxons have a goal internally: Sesko is set to become the record transfer in the club’s history.
“RB Leipzig promised his agents that the striker could join a top club this summer. However, the fee is freely negotiable and, from Leipzig’s perspective, should be close to €100 million.
“There are plenty of interested parties. On Friday, Christopher Vivell (38) was sitting in the stands in Wolfsburg. The Manchester United sporting director has a close relationship with Sesko, bringing him to Salzburg as a 16-year-old and luring the Slovenian to Leipzig in 2023.
“The striker is expected to be scoring goals at Old Trafford starting this summer. But Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool, and AC Milan are also keen to get the job done.”
Vivell’s influence could be key if United are to pull this deal off. His current market value stands at €65 million with his gameplay earning comparisons with Premier League superstar Erling Haaland.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
