Benjamin Sesko has been a target for Arsenal since the start of the 2025 summer transfer window, but now Manchester United is the team that has expressed interest. The "Gunners" have shifted to Viktor Gyokeres - a former student of coach Ruben Amorim.
Sesko has scored 39 goals in 87 appearances for RB Leipzig since moving from Red Bull Salzburg two years ago, but what qualities will he bring to Old Trafford?
And with a release clause ranging from £68 to £86 million, is Sesko really capable of becoming the next "Erling Haaland"?
Sesko's scoring record may be modest, but he is a rare striker with a similar physique and playing style to Haaland. With a height of 1m93, Sesko has an impressive figure and speed, making him a real threat in front of the opponent's goal.
Impressive physique allows Sesko to play the role of a target striker - able to hold the ball, build walls, support teammates and effectively take advantage of long balls, crosses or set pieces.
Like Haaland, Sesko combines strength, lack of ball movement and explosive speed - factors that make him dangerous in every attack situation.
In the Bundesliga last season, Sesko reached a maximum speed of 35.69 km/h, ranking 26th out of 492 players. In fact, in the previous season, he ranked higher - 15th overall.
Man United's targeting of Sesko shows that they are continuing to pursue a strategy of increasing the speed of attack this summer. They have previously signed Bryan Mbeumo, who reached a top speed of 36.63 km/h last season, fourth in the Premier League.
Sesko's speed could stretch and disrupt the opposition defence. This is also a harmful weapon in counter-attacks and transition situations - something he clearly showed during his time playing in the Bundesliga.
RB Leipzig is already known as one of the most effective counter-attacking teams in Germany, with a total of 17 goals from counter-attacks since the beginning of last season. And Sesko played a key role in that achievement.
In the last two Bundesliga seasons, the Slovene striker has scored a total of 5 goals from quick counter-attacks, ranking third in the tournament. Only Lois Openda at RB Leipzig and former Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush have done better, each scoring 6 goals.
A recent typical example of Sesko's ability was in the 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich in May. He accelerated past Eric Dier to receive a pass from Xavi Simons, before launching a beautiful long-range shot that defeated goalkeeper Jonas Urbig.
That counter-attack was a clear testament to Sesko's incredible speed and efficiency, when the ball was taken from the edge of RB Leipzig's penalty area to Bayern's net in just a few seconds.
Like Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Sesko could strengthen the Red Devils' counter-attacking threat. They have scored just four goals from quick counter-attacks in the Premier League last season.
It is worth noting that Sesko not only promotes his power in a wide space. Despite his tall physique, he is still a technical dribbler, capable of passing the defender in tight spaces before accelerating towards the goal.
Sesko's average of 1.46 successful dribbles per 90 minutes is the highest among Bundesliga strikers last season. This is another outstanding strength in his diverse skill set.
Sesko is still not a perfect player, having only turned 22 at the end of May. Some aspects of his playing style are still quite rudimentary. The goals that the player born in 2004 scored often came unexpectedly, rather than as a result of stability and regularity.
Moving to Old Trafford will mean facing great pressure and high expectations. However, Sesko's big plus is his youth, giving him time to develop as well as improve himself in the harsh environment of the Premier League.
Of course, signing a potential player like Sesko instead of a confirmed name is always risky. He has not reached the scoring level of Haaland when the Norwegian striker joined the Etihad.
