Rasmus Hojlund gives Man Utd headache in bid to land Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig

Leipzig had been exploring the possibility of signing Hojlund, potentially as part of a deal that would see United bring Benjamin Sesko to the Premier League. However, the 21-year-old Dane’s refusal to consider the switch could complicate United's efforts to land the Slovenian frontman.  

A delegation from United was reportedly sent to Germany earlier this week to open discussions with RB Leipzig regarding Sesko. The striker had also attracted strong interest from Arsenal earlier in the window. However, the Gunners backed away after Leipzig stood firm on their valuation, which exceeded €80 million (£70m/$93m). 

Newcastle United have also entered the chase for Sesko and have reportedly tabled an offer of €75 million (£65m/$87m), with an additional €5m (£4.3 million) in potential bonuses. Despite the significant bid, it is understood that Sesko would prefer a move to Old Trafford over a switch to St James' Park. This preference could tilt the negotiation in United's favour, especially if they can reach a compromise on Leipzig’s asking price. Sources suggest that both clubs are hopeful that a deal could be struck closer to the €70m (£61m/$81m) mark. 

One of the proposals floated to facilitate the transfer was to offer Hojlund in exchange for Sesko, either as a direct swap or part of a package deal. This option was seen as a potential solution to help United manage their financial constraints under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).    

By offloading Hojlund and acquiring Sesko in return, United could theoretically balance the books and strengthen their squad at the same time. But with Hojlund now firmly opposing any move away from Manchester, the feasibility of that arrangement has been thrown into doubt.