Manchester United are considering Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as potential striker signings, but any move for either player is expected to be complicated.
The club knows it needs to sell players before bringing in more reinforcements, and with the transfer window closing on 1 September, significant outgoings might not happen until the final days.
Sesko and Watkins are both highly rated, but neither would come cheap or easy.
Newcastle are also interested in Sesko, who scored 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga games last season and is seen as one of Europe’s top young strikers. With uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak’s future, Newcastle are watching the 22-year-old Slovenian closely.
As for Watkins, Villa have made it clear they don’t want to sell. United believe that stance could soften closer to the deadline, but the £60 million price tag being floated is seen as too steep for a 29-year-old whose contract runs until 2028.
For now, Rasmus Hojlund remains the first-choice striker under new manager Ruben Amorim. But the 21-year-old is still trying to prove himself after scoring just 10 goals in 52 games last season.
He showed some promise in United’s recent 2-1 win over West Ham in New Jersey, using his strength and speed to hit the post with a solo effort. Amorim praised the performance, but Hojlund has yet to score in pre-season, and one missed chance in the first half drew a frustrated reaction from his manager.
United have already spent close to £130 million this summer, bringing in attackers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, as well as young defender Diego Leon. While Cunha and Mbeumo can both play through the middle, Amorim sees them more as attacking midfielders in his system, which features two number 10 roles behind a central striker.
Amorim also recently said he prefers to sign players with Premier League experience, which makes Watkins an attractive option despite the high cost.
Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona, and several other players — including Antony, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrrell Malacia — were left out of the club’s tour of the United States. Amorim has made it clear United will not let them go cheaply, but if no deals are made, they could be welcomed back into the squad.
Compared to Hojlund, both Watkins and Sesko had better numbers last season. Watkins scored 16 goals in 38 Premier League games, while Sesko found the net 13 times in 33 appearances in Germany.
But it’s not just about goals. Watkins is known for his creativity and strong assist record. Sesko, on the other hand, is more of a traditional centre forward. At 6 foot 5, he offers physicality, pace and versatility. He can hold the ball up, run in behind, and score in a variety of ways.
In terms of style, Sesko may be a better fit for Amorim’s system if United want a more physical target man. Watkins is six inches shorter and plays with more movement, focusing on timing his runs into space.
RB Leipzig are believed to have set an £87 million asking price for Sesko, which combined with Newcastle’s interest, makes this a tough deal to pull off. But with United still weighing their options and the clock ticking toward deadline day, both players remain firmly on the radar.
