Man Utd Eye Sesko in Shock Player-Plus-Cash Deal

Manchester United are in talks with RB Leipzig over Benjamin Sesko (Picture: Getty)

RB Leipzig have indicated they are open to selling Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United in a player-plus-cash deal.

United have made Sesko their top striker target after missing out on Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal and going cold on Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.

Gyokeres was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford but ended up rejecting Manchester United in favour of their Premier League rivals Arsenal .

The Red Devils have since been linked with Jackson but Chelsea’s staggering asking price of £80m has put United – and other clubs – off a move.

Manchester United therefore turned their attentions to Sesko and Ollie Watkins , the Aston Villa and England striker, but the former is believed to be the club’s preferred option.

Sesko scored 21 goals last season and at 22 is yet to hit his peak. With 16 international goals already, the highly-rated forward is expected to surpass the 35-goal mark and become Slovenia’s all-time top goalscorer.

RB Leipzig were demanding 100m euros for Sesko at the start of the transfer window but have already dropped that price to around £70m .

Ruben Amorim looks keen to sign a new striker (Picture: Getty)

Even that reduced figure looks beyond Manchester United, who have already spent over £120m this summer on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and were hit financially by their failure to qualify for the Champions League.

But the prospect of a player-plus-cash deal for Sesko has been raised as a possibility after RB Leipzig identified Rasmus Hojlund as a possible replacement for their current striker.

The Athletic say Leipzig are ‘among several clubs’ looking at Hojlund, who could be sold following a difficult spell at Old Trafford.

Rasmus Hojlund has struggled at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

Given the disparity in the players’ valuations, Manchester United would still need to spend some cash on Sesko even if Hojlund was included as part of the deal.

Hojlund has not been told to find a new club and Ruben Amorim was full of praise for the Norwegian following the pre-season win over Bournemouth on Wednesday .

‘People focus on the goals and we suffer a lot because of the lack of goals,’ said Amorim. ‘I think not just the goals, but the way he connects the play every time we have to kick the ball [long].

Sesko scored 21 goals for RB Leipzig last season (Picture: Getty)

‘The ability for him to hold the defender and to connect in support is helping us a lot to play better and we are playing better because he’s playing better.

‘I’m really happy with Rasmus. I don’t know what is going to happen until the end of the market.

‘The important thing is that the strikers that are here are working really well, are improving, are helping the team and that is the most important thing.’

Hojlund is said to be open to a move back to Italy , having been heavily linked with Inter Milan earlier in the summer.

But, speaking after the 4-1 win over Bournemouth, he insisted he was determined to stay at Manchester United and ‘fight for my spot’ .

‘My plan is very clear,’ the 22-year-old said after scoring twice against the Cherries. ‘That is for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens.

‘Competition is fine with me. It sharpens me. I’m more than ready. I’m feeling sharp so I welcome everything that comes.’