Manchester United have reportedly fired back in the red-hot race with Newcastle United for Benjamin Sesko as INEOS refuse to lose another key target to a Premier League rival.
Sesko is now the priority
United have settled on Sesko – RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old frontman – as their preferred option up front at this stage of the summer window after alternative targets prioritised moves elsewhere in England.
Liam Delap (Ipswich Town) was the club’s first-choice option in June but the England U-21 international rebuffed United’s interest in favour of a switch to Chelsea.
There was interest in Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt) but the former signed for Arsenal while the latter joined Liverpool.
This led United to narrow their search down to two remaining options – Sesko and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – with Sesko emerging as the priority over the England international despite Watkins’ wealth of experience and proven track record of goals in the Premier League.
However, Newcastle have also identified Sesko as a key target in recent weeks after Liverpool made advances towards signing their talismanic striker, Alexander Isak. The Magpies would only consider Isak’s departure if a suitable replacement had already been sourced.
Newcastle have sought to trump their domestic rival in the race by moving quicker to reach an agreement with Leipzig. They have tabled two separate bids, the second worth a total package of €90 million.
Leipzig have not responded to this offer with reports suggesting the German club were waiting for United’s movement in the hope of sparking a bidding war between the two English sides – and movement has now been made.
An opening offer
United have submitted an “official bid” to sign Sesko, according to Fabrizio Romano, with Old Trafford officials believing Sesko is “keen on the move”.
🚨 Manchester United sent official bid to show serious, concrete intentions to RB Leipzig… following Newcastle €90m bid.
Sources at Man United believe Šeško is keen on the move and decided to proceed with official bid.
Newcastle and United, waiting for his formal decision. pic.twitter.com/cCgK075FS6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2025
Tweet: “Manchester United sent official bid to show serious, concrete intentions to RB Leipzig… following Newcastle €90m bid. Sources at Man United believe Šeško is keen on the move and decided to proceed with official bid.
Newcastle and United, waiting for his formal decision.”
David Ornstein confirms this development, revealing United have tabled an offer worth €85 million (€75m + €10m in add-ons) with confidence at the club that Sesko prefers the north west of England over the north east.
🚨 BREAKING: Manchester United make offer to RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko. Proposal €75m + €10m – reflects #MUFC valuation of 22yo & they believe striker favours Old Trafford. No reply yet from #RBLeipzig. #NUFC also working to close deal @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/5O8AT6Alej
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 5, 2025
Tweet: “BREAKING: Manchester United make offer to RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko. Proposal €75m + €10m – reflects #MUFC valuation of 22yo & they believe striker favours Old Trafford. No reply yet from #RBLeipzig. #NUFC also working to close deal @TheAthleticFC.”
There has been “no reply” yet from Leipzig to this proposal with United having failed to match the total package on offer from Newcastle. This suggests the Bundesliga club may hold out hope of extracting more money from United, even if their striker has his heart set on Old Trafford.
Featured image Luciano Lima via Getty Images
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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.
