Manchester United could be about to overhaul former transfer target to replace Anthony Martial

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko’s agent Elvis Basanovic was in attendance for Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

United attempted to sign the forward in the 2022 summer transfer window when he was on the books of Red Bull Salzburg. As reported Manchester Evening News at the time, former United director of football John Murtough met with Basanovic to assess the possibility of a transfer.

United failed to strengthen their attack by adding a centre-forward that summer. The only striker to arrive in 2022/23 was Wout Weghorst, who was signed on loan from Burnley in January.

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United bolstered their attack last summer by signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta. He has scored 14 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions this season.

Anthony Martial is set to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of next month and United will need to replace him to give Hojlund enough competition at the top end of the pitch. They have been linked with a collection of options who could provide that support, from Brentford striker Ivan Toney to Lille ace Jonathan David.

In recent weeks, however, overseas reports have again linked them to Sesko. The Slovenian, who will turn 21 later this month, joined Leipzig last summer for a reported fee of €24 million. The deal between Salzburg and Leipzig had been agreed 12 months earlier.

Sesko has scored 17 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig this season, including 13 in 30 Bundesliga outings. After scoring a respectable number of goals in his debut season in Germany, he is being linked with a move away from Leipzig ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

United, along with Arsenal, have been credited with an interest in him and it has been widely reported that he has a release clause in his contract that will become active this summer. He is said to be worth €65 million, while he was said to be worth €42 million back in January.

After paying an initial fee of £64m on Hojlund last summer, it remains to be seen whether United will invest as much in a second striker in as many years. The Dane has been drafted in to front the club’s forward line both in the here and now and for the future, but his maiden season at Old Trafford has made it clear that he needs some form of reliable competition.

Martial did not make a matchday squad in December after undergoing groin surgery and will leave the club when his contract expires. He has made just 19 appearances this term.