Manchester United risk missing out on £43m ‘next Erling Haaland’ after two-year transfer pursuit

Manchester United could miss out on a striker that they have been watching for two years, with Arsenal said to be entering the race.

MEN Sport reported back in July 2022 that meetings had been held between United and the agent of then-Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko over a possible transfer to Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old instead moved from Salzburg to Red Bull Leipzig in the summer and has caught the eye with his performances for the German side, earning comparisons with Man City’s Erling Haaland, whose position he stepped into at Salzburg after the Norwegian’s move to Borussia Dortmund

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Sesko has scored 13 times in 37 appearances in all competitions this season, including six goals in his last 11 Bundesliga appearances. It’s perhaps no surprise then that the youngster is gaining interest, with football.london reporting that Sesko is on Arsenal’s wish list ahead of the summer transfer window.

The comparisons with Haaland may not be a coincidence with the striker admitting that he does watch videos of his fellow striker on YouTube to help improve his own game. "He's an amazing player, I've big respect for him and I usually watch many YouTube videos about him,” he told TV2 back in November 2022.

When asked if he could go on to become an even better player than Haaland, he replied: "It is very difficult. He is at the very, very highest level. Only a few per cent manage to be at that level".

Arsenal’s interest in Sesko has also been reported by the Evening Standard, who also add that the young striker has a release clause of €50 million (£42.7m) in his current contract with Leipzig. It is said that the German club are already sounding out possible replacements with Chelsea another club reported to be keeping tabs on the situation.

The growing interest in the striker means that United will have to move quickly if they wish for the two-year pursuit to succeed. Erik Ten Hag currently has Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial as out-and-out striker options with the latter potentially moving on at the end of his contract in the summer.