After a dramatic, back-and-forth transfer battle with a Premier League rival, Manchester United have finally won the race to sign their top striker target, Benjamin Šeško, from RB Leipzig.
According to a breaking report from The Athletic, the player’s personal preference was the ultimate deciding factor in the saga. While the German club, RB Leipzig, favoured a competing bid from Newcastle United, Šeško’s unwavering determination to join Manchester United ultimately forced a compromise with the Red Devils.
United have now reached an agreement with Leipzig over a transfer fee worth a total of €85 million. The package is understood to consist of an initial €76.5 million in a guaranteed fee, with a further €8.5 million in performance-related add-ons.
The 22-year-old Slovenian international, who has been training alone in recent days while his future was being resolved, has now reportedly been given permission to travel to Manchester to undergo his medical.
Šeško is set to become the third big-money addition to United’s attack this summer, following the earlier arrivals of Matheus Cunha from Wolves (£62.5m) and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford (£71m). His signing will take the club’s total summer spending well over the £200 million mark.
With their lengthy striker search now complete, United are expected to turn their full attention to signing a new midfielder before the window closes, although a proposed move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba may now prove too expensive after this latest significant outlay.
In the end, player power won the day. Benjamin Šeško’s clear desire to play for Ruben Amorim has landed Manchester United their man, dealing a significant blow to Newcastle and potentially unlocking other major moves in the transfer market.