Benjamin Sesko's Strange Desire to Join Manchester United

MANCHESTER, THURSDAY — Newcastle United's efforts to bring in Benjamin Sesko are at risk of failing as the player is reportedly more interested in joining Manchester United. Sesko's desire is somewhat surprising considering Newcastle is offering the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League next season. The strong brand presence of MU in English football is expected to influence Sesko's decision to some extent.

In addition to playing time, the opportunity to participate in prestigious tournaments is usually a significant factor for a footballer when deciding on a new club. This does not apply to Sesko, who has recently been frequently linked with Newcastle and MU.

According to a report by The Athletic, Sesko is said to be more interested in becoming part of MU rather than having the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League with Newcastle.

"Manchester United is close to reaching an agreement to recruit Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. MU has been competing with Newcastle to acquire the 22-year-old forward," wrote David Ornstein from The Athletic, Thursday (7/8/2025) early morning WIB.

"However, Sesko wants to join MU and all parties are now aware of this, along with the progress of negotiations to meet Leipzig's expectations. Although there is yet to be an agreement between the clubs, the situation is moving in that direction," Ornstein continued.

Sesko has become a hot commodity in this summer's transfer market. The Slovenian national team striker showed promise by scoring 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last season.

Newcastle, in need of a new center-forward to anticipate the departure of Alexander Isak, were previously the frontrunners to sign Sesko. The Magpies initially submitted a bid of €75 million plus €5 million in add-ons, before increasing it to €80 million.

Within 24 hours, Manchester United moved ahead of Newcastle with a bid of €75 million plus €10 million in add-ons. Seeing Manchester United's maneuver, Newcastle continued to increase their offer. Finally, Newcastle offered €82.5 million plus €2.5 million. This offer was then accepted by Leipzig.

Although Leipzig agreed to the amount offered by Newcastle, the puzzle of which port Sesko will head to still depends on the player's decision. According to the latest rumors, Sesko seems to be leaning more towards choosing MU, which will not participate in European club competitions next season, over Newcastle.

If the transfer of Sesko to MU truly materializes, it will be a significant blow to Newcastle. The club, managed by Eddie Howe, has previously failed to secure its targeted player acquisitions.

The club based at St James Park has repeatedly been outmaneuvered by its rivals. Hugo Ekitike, Bryan Mbeumo, James Trafford, Joao Pedro, and Liam Delap are among the players targeted by Newcastle. However, they have chosen to join the "big six" clubs in England instead.

Success in winning the Carabao Cup and qualifying for next season's Champions League does not guarantee that Newcastle is attractive enough for players to join. At this point, the club's brand plays a crucial role.

Sometimes, the influence of a brand surpasses the opportunity to participate in prestigious competitions. This is also what ultimately affects Sesko's preference to choose MU.

Compared to Newcastle, the MU brand is far more recognized. Alongside Liverpool, MU is one of the most successful clubs in England with a collection of 20 league titles. The era of MU's glory under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson from 1992 to 2013 has inspired many young footballers who were still children at that time.

It is not impossible that many young footballers are influenced by the glory of MU in the past. Memories of that era carry on to the present day. Playing for a club as prestigious as MU, even while going through a difficult period without winning many prestigious trophies currently, is a source of pride for him.

The strong influence of the MU brand is also acknowledged by Matheus Cunha, who joined earlier. Despite finishing at the bottom of the table, not winning any trophies, and failing to qualify for Europe next season, MU remains a big name that is hard to ignore.

"Of course, I know this is a difficult season for everyone. I believe my decision reflects how valuable this club is to me, and what I believe about this club," said Cunha.

Sesko's presence has the potential to sharpen Manchester United's attack next season. His strong finishing, aerial ability, and link-up skills are Sesko's key attributes. He will form a deadly trident alongside Mbeumo and Cunha in Ruben Amorim's signature 3-4-2-1 formation. (REUTERS)