Benjamin Sesko is missing piece in forging formidable Man United line-up after £207m transfer spree

Manchester United are prepared to splash the cash even further this summer with another statement signing for their attack.

talkSPORT understands they have submitted a fresh bid to RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko worth an initial £65.1million plus £8.7m in add-ons.

United are confident the 22-year-old favours a move to Old Trafford over Newcastle, who made a club-record bid of £70m plus add-ons.

Sesko would become the third attacking arrival for Ruben Amorim’s side after Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo joined earlier in the summer.

The duo joined in deals worth £62.5m and £71m respectively but United’s summer spending will reach £207m with the Leipzig star.

Just 44 Premier League goals were scored by United last season to leave them longing for added firepower in the 2025/26 campaign.

With Sesko potentially set to sign, talkSPORT.com has looked at how the United starting XI could look for the upcoming season.

Goalkeeper and defence

Andre Onana has been absent from pre-season due to a hamstring injury he suffered in training.

talkSPORT have reported United interest in Emi Martinez and Senne Lammens as potential goalkeeping additions.

Altay Bayindir has started in most of their pre-season fixtures, but Onana looks set to return to his starting role once back from injury.

United conceded 83 goals across all competitions last season but the defence may not see much tweaking beyond the summer.

Harry Maguire impressed despite poor results, with his and Matthijs de Ligt’s experience a boost for 19-year-old prospect Leny Yoro.

Lisandro Martinez is another centre-back option, although he has just returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Argentine’s last competitive appearance came on February 2.

Midfield

Club captain Bruno Fernandes was heavily linked with a move to Al Hilal at the beginning of the summer.

However, after consulting with his family, he rejected a £700,000-per-week offer from the Saudi Pro League side to stay in England.

The Portuguese international was by far and away their best player last season with 19 goals and 19 assists, and remains key to the side.

Amorim has plenty of options to choose from when selecting who starts alongside Fernandes in the midfield.

Manuel Ugarte made 45 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, which is three more than Casemiro and eight more than Kobbie Mainoo.

But the Uruguayan has seemed to struggle with the physicality in the Premier League and at 33 years old, Casemiro may be on the decline.

That means Mainoo could be handed the second midfield spot, with the more attacking-minded Fernandes playing slightly ahead of him.

Patrick Dorgu is worthy of featuring on the left after an impressive first half-year with United.

Amorim started him in 18 of his 20 appearances since signing from US Lecce in February, with 12 outings coming in the league.

Playing on the opposite side of their four-man midfield will likely be Amad Diallo who, like Fernandes, was a shining light last season.

The 23-year-old hit 21 goal contributions and although he can play as an attacking midfielder, his pace makes him a strong wide option.

Formidable forwards

United were able to get Cunha and Mbeumo through the doors early, even though negotiations for the latter took weeks to conclude.

The former Wolves and Brentford stars have joined for a combined £133.5m and are set to be consistent starters for their new club.

Cunha will likely be the left-sided option behind the striker, with Mbeumo playing on the other side given his right-winger experience.

And leading the new-look attack for United could be Sesko, the latest Bundesliga talent to attract interest from the Premier League.

The Slovenian international netted 39 times in all competitions for Leipzig since signing from FC Red Bull Salzburg in 2023.

Whilst he boasts good numbers, talkSPORT’s Andy Townsend warned he might not be ‘the most prolific’ striker in the English top flight.

Although Townsend thinks a formidable partnership with Mbeumo and Cunha: “Sesko could have someone alongside him.

“He could have those two number tens, which Ruben Amorim with the with the back three and the four in the middle, whether it’s then a one and two up or whether it’s two behind Sesko, something like that, you can see that working.”

Something different

European football expert Kevin Hatchard commented on how his style of play makes him unpredictable in front of goal.

“He’s quite unusual in the sense that he’s tall, he’s 6’5, but he’s quick as well. He strikes the ball incredibly well, and he’s prepared to do the unexpected,” Hatchard said.

“I remember commentating on a game against Bayern [Munich] quite lat in the season, and there was a moment when he got played through by Xavi [Simons].

“The goalkeeper was a long, long way from his line, and a lot of players would look to lift the ball over him. And he actually thought, ‘No, I can hit this with power, with the outside of my boot.’

“He was able to bend it around the goalkeeper, Jonas Urbig, and into the back of the net. That’s the kind of unusual thing he’s capable of, he’s got great technique.”