Newcastle Club Increases Transfer Bid for Benjamin Sesko, Sets Deadline as United Express Interest
Manchester United has emerged victorious in the race to sign highly-rated striker Benjamin Sesko, beating off competition from Newcastle United and Arsenal. The Red Devils completed a deal worth around €85 million with RB Leipzig on a five-year contract, officially confirmed on August 9, 2025.
Sesko, who scored 21 goals last season and has 39 strikes in 87 matches in his opening two years in Germany, expressed a clear preference for Manchester United, which helped them secure the transfer. Key to this deal was the fact that United had completed the necessary medicals and agreed a deal in principle ahead of signing.
Newcastle United had shown interest in the young striker, with reports suggesting they made higher bids. However, Sesko's preference for Manchester United proved decisive. Arsenal were mentioned in the query but do not appear involved at this stage according to current sources.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had an offer in excess of £110m rejected for Alexander Isak last week. However, this fact does not seem to be directly related to the Sesko transfer.
Newcastle are confident they can reach an agreement with RB Leipzig, but as of now, Manchester United are still in the mix for Sesko, although they have not made a formal offer. Eddie Howe's side have not yet submitted a formal offer for Sesko, and United are prepared to sell Rasmus Hojlund for bids ranging from £30m to £42m less than what they paid for him in 2023.
In other transfer news, Liverpool hijacked Newcastle's move to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. On the other hand, Mbeumo signed for United from Brentford, while Liam Delap and Joao Pedro ended up at Chelsea instead.
Aaron Ramsdale arrived on loan from Southampton, replacing goalkeeper James Trafford who returned to Manchester City. Dean Huijsen opted to join Real Madrid instead of Newcastle when he departed Bournemouth.
Newcastle's only other signing this window, besides Anthony Elanga, was made by paying £55m to Nottingham Forest for a winger. Meanwhile, United are valuing Alexander Isak at around £150m, three years after signing him from Real Sociedad for £63m.
Sesko has already told his Leipzig teammates he expects to leave this summer, and Leipzig hold out for at least an initial £70m fee and a future sell-on clause. Newcastle have submitted an improved €80million bid for Sesko, but Leipzig turned down a previous club-record offer of €75million plus €5m from Newcastle.
In a surprising turn of events, Rasmus Hojlund was previously offered as a sweetener to land Sesko, but he does not want to make the move. Despite this, Manchester United has secured the signing of the promising young striker, marking a significant boost for their squad ahead of the new season.
- The Premier League's Manchester United have secured the signing of Benjamin Sesko, a highly-rated striker, from RB Leipzig, beating off competition from Newcastle United and Arsenal despite Newcastle reportedly making higher bids.
- In other transfer news, Liverpool, who had a £110m offer for Alexander Isak rejected last week, hijacked Newcastle's move to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, United signed Mbeumo from Brentford, and both Liam Delap and Joao Pedro ended up at Chelsea instead.
- Manchester United's acquisition of Sesko, who reportedly expects to leave his Leipzig teammates this summer, adds a significant boost to their squad ahead of the new season, despite the fact that they have Rasmus Hojlund up for sale, with potential bids ranging from £30m to £42m less than what they paid for him in 2023.
