‘Exploring move’ – David Ornstein drops worrying striker transfer news for Man United

Manchester United are more desperate for a striker than any other team in European football right now, because their other competitors in the Premier League who were driving hard after a No. 9 already found at least one signing.

Chelsea brought in young Ipswich Town star Liam Delap to pair with Nicolas Jackson, Liverpool are close to replacing Darwin Nunez with not one but two top strikers, and Arsenal snagged Ruben Amorim’s dream get Viktor Gyokeres right from under his nose,

Manchester United risk heading into the 2025/26 Premier League season empty-handed, and after finishing 16th in the league last season and losing in the Europa League Final to 17th-placed Tottenham, the Red Devils simply cannot afford to go into another season without a valid goal-scoring option up top.

While Man United have done fabulously to get Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha at the other forward positions, it all won’t click without a top-class No. 9. Within the Premier League, Jackson and Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa are options, with Watkins largely being the preferred one.

Manchester United need to make a splash at striker

But if Man United want to make a big splash and sign someone who can bag 20 for the next decade, then 22-year-old RB Leipzig marksman Benjamin Sesko should be the pick of the litter.

The problem is that Manchester United aren’t alone in the chase for the Bundesliga star. Even though Arsenal have dropped off after signing Gyokeres, Newcastle are hungry for a striker after Liverpool stormed in for Hugo Ekitike, and if they lose Isak, too, they’ll be even more ravenous.

According to a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Newcastle are “exploring move” for Benjamin Sesko this summer and have “long-standing” interest in the U23 striker.

Ornstein writes that the financials of the deal may be difficult to complete, but it’s honestly hard to believe that a club owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could have any difficulty putting enough cash to signing Sesko, especially if they lose Isak.

Newcastle have been closely linked with Yoane Wissa, too, but Sesko would surely be preferred since he’s several years younger. He’s also a better player. And even if Newcastle do sign Wissa from Brentford, that wouldn’t rule out a double swoop.

The Magpies have outperformed Manchester United in the Premier League lately, too, so the Red Devils have to be legitimately worried about losing the Sesko transfer battle if Newcastle make a serious approach. It’s time for Man United to batten down the hatches and get this move done.