The collapse of the €80 million (£69 million) transfer deal marks a major setback for Manchester United’s efforts to strengthen their attack, especially after a disappointing Premier League season where they scored just 44 goals.
Benjamin Šeško, who netted 13 goals in the 2024/25 Bundesliga despite RB Leipzig’s underwhelming campaign, was United’s primary striker target. Recruitment director Christopher Vivell had used his previous ties with both Salzburg and Leipzig to facilitate the move.
United had initiated preliminary discussions with both Leipzig and Šeško’s camp, drawn by the striker’s imposing physical profile—standing at 6ft 4in with a top speed of 35.69 km/h—and his potential to emulate Erling Haaland’s influence. However, Newcastle managed to secure Šeško by offering Champions League football and a promising project under Eddie Howe. The striker had a gentleman’s agreement with Leipzig allowing a move for €80–€90 million. Newcastle’s push came amid uncertainty over Alexander Isak’s future, with the club planning to use the funds from a potential £150 million sale to finance Šeško’s arrival.
As a result, United manager Rúben Amorim is left with a thin forward line. Rasmus Højlund, who only scored four league goals last season, has shown signs of improvement—particularly in a 4-1 pre-season win against Bournemouth—but his lack of consistency remains troubling. Joshua Zirkzee is still struggling to settle in, and with Marcus Rashford loaned to Barcelona and potential departures looming for Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony, United’s attacking options are severely limited.
Although newcomers Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha bring pace, neither is a traditional center-forward. Amorim may be forced to rethink his 3-4-3 formation—which relies on a central striker to hold up play and link with wide players—and could switch to a 4-4-2 setup to better utilize Højlund’s strengths.
The failed pursuit of Šeško also highlights United’s financial issues. The deal fell through partly because the club couldn’t offload high-earning players to free up funds. Alternative targets like Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson were considered too expensive, and Leipzig were unwilling to lower their asking price for Šeško.
Amorim, who aimed to replicate the success he had with Viktor Gyökeres at Sporting Lisbon, now faces mounting pressure to deliver with a depleted squad. Newcastle, on the other hand, have significantly reinforced their forward line, underlining their ambition to compete at the highest level, while United scramble to make key additions before the August 2025 transfer deadline.
