Man United are hopeful of completing the signing of Benjamin Sesko from German club RB Leipzig this summer.United are closing in on Benjamin Sesko.(Image: 2024 Simon Hofmann – UEFA)

Rene Meulensteen has concerns over Benjamin Sesko’s proposed Manchester United transfer.

The Manchester Evening News reported on Wednesday that United are confident Sesko prefers a move to Old Trafford, following interest from Premier League competitors Newcastle.

Newcastle have offered a higher package for Sesko, but the player’s preference is set to be decisive. United have already beaten Eddie Howe’s side to the signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford this summer.

Sesko has 39 goals in 87 appearances for RB Leipzig, but he is unproven in the Premier League, which wouldn’t have been a concern if United had advanced with their interest in Ollie Watkins.

Having been rejected by Liam Delap earlier in the window, United were left to choose between Watkins and Sesko. But Aston Villa insisted Watkins was not for sale, while Leipzig were receptive to talks.

And Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant Meulensteen believes a move for Sesko is a risk. “United’s bid for Sesko is basically exactly what they did with Rasmus Hojlund,” Meulensteen said.

“If he scores in the first three or four games and hits the ground running then he could be the answer for the club, but there’s a chance that won’t happen.

“If you look at Hojlund, he joined Atalanta and performed well alongside the rest of the team and then joined United. The same can be said for Sesko – the Bundesliga is a very different league to the Premier League, so he’ll need to adapt.

“Has Sesko got potential? 100%, but he’s still young and developing and he isn’t the finished article.”

In the same interview with Poker Strategy, Meulensteen explained why he would have preferred a move for Watkins. “I look at someone like Watkins who may be available,” he said.

“He’s a hard-working player with similar features to Sesko, except that he already has Premier League experience, which is priceless. I think Sesko would probably cost more than Watkins, too.

“Why doesn’t the club bring in Watkins and allow the coaches to work closely with Hojlund to allow him to develop? It’s a waste of an investment otherwise – they paid close to £80m for him and they’re in danger of selling him for less than half of that unless he develops.”

United have a longstanding interest in Sesko, whose agent met football director John Murtough three years ago and visited Old Trafford before agreeing a deal with Leipzig.

Sesko has scored 16 goals in 41 games for Slovenia and featured for his country at Euro 2024.

KICK OFF – Man United pre-season guide 2025/26

The countdown is on to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign – and our pre-season guide is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead.

As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory – or simply survival in the toughest league in the world!

Also full fixtures guide so you don’t miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season.

Get your copy NOW

—

Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.

And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.