Alan Shearer has doubts over one NUFC and MUFC target. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League)
Alan Shearer has urged both Manchester United and Newcastle United to proceed with caution in their respective pursuits of Benjamin Sesko.
While the all-time Premier League record goalscorer is desperate to see Newcastle make some high-quality signings after a disastrous window thus far, he’s unsure whether Sesko is the most suitable choice.
United and Newcastle are neck and neck in their moves for the Slovenian international, with the player said to be slightly leaning towards the former despite their lack of European football throughout 2025/2026.
From RB Leipzig’s perspective, they’d likely rather do a deal with the Magpies, as they’ve made it clear they’re willing to pay whatever it takes to add Sesko to their ranks before 2025/2026 gets underway.
United opted for Benjamin Sesko over Ruben Amorim’s first-choice
As for United, reports last week claimed they had refined their striker shortlist down to just two options: Sesko and Ollie Watkins.
Within a matter of days, they had prioritised the Leipzig starlet, with director of recruitment Christopher Vivell spearheading the club’s interest due to his prior connections with the 22-year-old, having played an integral role in Sesko signing for RB Salzburg back in 2019.
However, it’s been claimed that if the decision were fully up to Ruben Amorim, he’d have opted for the more proven and experienced centre-forward in the form of Watkins, who boasts a stellar record of 87 goals and 42 assists in 223 appearances for Aston Villa across all competitions.
Signing those younger talents who’ve not fully developed hasn’t been a successful route to take for the Reds in recent years – hence why they’re considering parting ways with Rasmus Hojlund after only two seasons.
Shearer has echoed such a sentiment this week, as he told The Rest Is Football panel: “With Sesko, I know he’s young, but that would be a gamble because you’re going to have to pay a decent-sized fee.
“I saw him two or three times in the Champions League last season and there’s definitely room for improvement.
“Yes, there’s certainly a talent there but there’s a lot of improvement that can be made as well. You’re bringing someone who’s unknown into the Premier League and that’s always a bit of a risk.”
