Manchester United and Arsenal are both in the market for a world-class striker. While both clubs already boast talented forwards like Marcus Rashford, Gabriel Jesus, Joshua Zirkzee, and Kai Havertz, none of these players have consistently reached the elite milestone of 30 goals per season.The Red Devils are reportedly keen on bringing in a striker on the verge of breaking into that elite category, but Arsenal currently holds the advantage in this race for a top talent.
According to a report from Give Me Sport, Manchester United has set their sights on Benjamin Sesko, the Slovenian international who scored 18 goals across 42 appearances last season for RB Leipzig. United’s recruitment team at Old Trafford is said to admire the 21-year-old forward, who has even been labeled as “better” than Erling Haaland by some of his teammates.
However, despite the interest from Manchester, Arsenal remains Sesko’s preferred destination. The striker reportedly would have joined the Gunners in the summer if he had decided to leave Leipzig, as Arsenal was his top choice. Give Me Sport also suggests that Sesko is expected to leave the Bundesliga in the summer of 2025, leaving United with work to do if they hope to convince him to pick Old Trafford over North London.
It’s worth noting that Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Sesko during the last transfer window for £55m, as part of a release clause in his contract. However, the release clause has since expired, and Sesko’s value has now skyrocketed to £96.3m, according to the CIES Football Observatory.
Although this valuation isn’t Leipzig’s confirmed asking price, it demonstrates the rapid rise in Sesko’s market worth after an impressive 2024 campaign.
Arsenal Could Offload Gabriel Jesus to Make Room
During the summer, rumors swirled that Arsenal was open to selling Gabriel Jesus if a suitable offer came in. While the Brazilian striker ultimately stayed at the Emirates — with Eddie Nketiah heading to Crystal Palace instead — Arsenal remains heavily linked with Sesko. Should a deal come to fruition in 2025, it’s believed that Jesus would be sold to make room for the Slovenian star.
Jesus has faced more injury setbacks this season and has yet to start a Premier League match, making a potential exit from North London in 2025 a strong possibility.Manchester United and Arsenal are both intensifying their search for a prolific striker to address their need for more consistent firepower. Marcus Rashford, Gabriel Jesus, Joshua Zirkzee, and Kai Havertz have all shown talent but haven’t consistently hit the elite milestone of 30 goals per season, a standard both clubs seek to meet.
Benjamin Šeško, the 21-year-old Slovenian striker who scored 18 goals in 42 appearances last season for RB Leipzig, has emerged as a top target for both clubs. Manchester United is reportedly keen to bring Šeško to Old Trafford, with their recruitment team rating him highly, even hearing claims that some teammates consider him “better” than Erling Haaland.
However, Arsenal appears to have the upper hand in the race for Šeško. The striker reportedly preferred a move to the Gunners over Manchester United in the last transfer window and is still viewed as more likely to join Arsenal, potentially in 2025. Though Arsenal could have triggered a £55 million release clause last summer, that clause has expired, and his current valuation has surged to £96.3 million according to CIES Football Observatory.
For Arsenal to make space for Šeško, Gabriel Jesus might be on the move. Jesus has had an injury-plagued season and has not yet started a Premier League match. Reports suggest Arsenal could sell him in 2025 to clear room for Šeško. If Arsenal is to secure Šeško’s signature, Manchester United will need to work hard to convince him to join them instead, potentially competing on transfer fees and wages while offering a compelling long-term project.
