Leipzig make key step for Sesko move as striker prefers Man Utd over Newcastle

Manchester United remain firmly in the running to sign RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Šeško who was left out of a pre-season match due to transfer interest.

Newcastle United have at the same time submitted a formal £65.5m plus £4.3m in add-ons bid for the 22-year-old — matching Leipzig’s valuation.

Leipzig’s sporting director Marcel Schäfer confirmed Šeško was excluded from their pre-season game against Atalanta amid ongoing negotiations, but clarified the club hasn't accepted or rejected the offer yet.

Sky Sports reports that the Reds have held initial talks with Šeško’s representatives and see him as a top transfer target, with the Slovenian striker reportedly preferring Old Trafford over Newcastle.

Schäfer told Bild: "In Benji's case, several clubs have shown concrete interest and, based on the overall situation, we have decided that he will not play today.

"But, I would like to emphasise this clearly; That does not mean that he will not play next week either."

There is no confirmation of an official United bid yet: they may be waiting for the player to signal his preference before firming up an offer.

Šeško is thought to be available via a structured release agreement, originally rumored to range from €60m–€80m (£66m), though reports differ whether it’s a formal clause or a gentleman’s understanding requiring a negotiation window.

United’s interest in Šeško aligns with their need to reinforce the striker position—especially as Rasmus Højlund has resisted inclusion in any swap deal to Leipzig and insists on staying to fight for his place at Old Trafford during pre-season preparation.

This pursuit comes after United have already invested heavily up front, acquiring Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for around £133–130m, and now face Financial Fair Play constraints that may necessitate player departures before completing another large transfer deal.

With Newcastle’s bid lodged and RB Leipzig yet to take a final decision, the Šeško race remains open—but United remain poised to match or counter Newcastle’s bid should they receive a clear signal from Šeško himself.