An “unbelievable” £50m striker is ready to step in and join Manchester United if they do not complete a deal for Benjamin Sesko, according to a report.
Man Utd making progress in Sesko pursuit
Man United have been going head-to-head with Newcastle United for the signature of Sesko, and there has now been a promising new update, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein suggesting the Slovenian would rather make the move to Old Trafford.
However, given that an agreement is yet to be reached with RB Leipzig, it remains to be seen whether United will be able to get a deal over the line, and it has been revealed that there are some alternative options on the shortlist.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos is of interest, while it is also well-known that Ruben Amorim’s side hold an interest in Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
According to a report from The Sun, Watkins is now really keen on a move to Old Trafford, with the Villa striker ready to step in and join instead of Sesko, if the Red Devils are unable to get a deal for the Slovenian over the line.
Aston Villa are treading a fine line PSR-wise, and having failed to cash-in on the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey, they may be forced to sell their centre-forward, who could command a fee in the region of £40m – £50m.
However, there are other Sesko alternatives on the shortlist, with FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis also named as potential options.
“Unbelievable” Watkins could excel at Old Trafford
Unlike Sesko, the Villa star has already proven himself in the Premier League, and he enjoyed a very impressive 2024-25 campaign, recording attacking numbers which suggest he could now be ready to test himself at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Former footballer Stephen Warnock also lauded the England international as “unbelievable” for his performances in the 2023-24 campaign.
That said, a deal for the Torquay-born striker could still be on the expensive side at £50m, and there may be little re-sale value, given that he is now 29-years-old, which poses a problem for Man United, who are already well-known to be struggling PSR-wise.
Consequently, it is clear to see why Sesko has emerged as Man United’s number one target, and it is exciting news that they are in a strong position to win the race for his signature.
