RB Leipzig's Stiff Stance: €75m for Benjamin Šeško
The summer transfer market is heating up, and Benjamin Šeško is right in the center of it. RB Leipzig are making their position clear—they won't entertain any offers below €75 million in guaranteed payments for the Slovenian striker, and they're also demanding extra fees through add-ons and a cut from any future sale. That's not just a number plucked out of thin air, either. The club's using the Hugo Ekitike deal as a benchmark, aiming to show they're no pushovers in this high-stakes negotiation game.
Manchester United are sounding out as the top suitor, and it’s not by accident. Their recruitment chief, Christopher Vivell, has a long track record with Šeško, tracking his development since the player was at Red Bull Salzburg. Vivell sees Šeško as a transformative fit for United’s front line, especially given the club’s plan to move fast and decisively in a competitive market.
Manchester United, Newcastle, and the Competition
While other strikers have floated into United’s orbit—Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (with a hefty £60m valuation) and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson were both on the radar—the vibe at Old Trafford is that Šeško ticks more boxes, especially with the way Leipzig are open to more flexible payment structures. United value that kind of financial breathing space while chasing their top attacking priority.
It isn’t a one-horse race, though. Newcastle United are keeping a close eye, and have made quiet enquiries, though they sense Leipzig’s tough stance. Leipzig even floated a higher asking price of €80m in some of their early talks, showing just how much leverage they think they have after recent deals have pushed transfer fees higher for promising forwards.
Šeško’s own preferences are shaking up the market, too. When Saudi Pro League clubs came calling with big-money offers, the 20-year-old reportedly turned them all down flat. He wants Champions League football and big moments in Europe, not an early payday in Saudi Arabia. That’s made United’s and Newcastle’s pitch stronger, since both clubs want to fight for major honors and stay in the European elite.
Now, United aren’t shutting the door on other signings. If the numbers work, and the opportunities align, they could still go in for Ollie Watkins alongside Šeško. But the focus for now is clear—their recruitment team is betting big on the Leipzig forward as the marquee signing who could sharpen up their attack and set the tone for the new season.
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