Manchester United has made Benjamin Sesko their top objective – but what makes the RB Leipzig striker so attractive?
The 22-year-old was previously sought in the transfer window by Arsenal, but Manchester United is now interested after the Gunners have moved for Viktor Gyokeres-Die used to be managed by Ruben Amorim.
Sesko has scored 39 goals in 87 games for RB Leipzig since he came to Red Bull Salzburg two years ago, but what qualities would he bring to Old Trafford?
And with a release clause between £ 68 million and £ 86 million, could he really be the next Erling Haaland?
Haaland-like speed and shape
His scoring record is modest compared to, but Sesko is a rare breed of Spits with a similar physical profile like Haaland. At 6ft 4 in it is exactly the same height and equally fast.
His shape enables him to play the role of a Targetman, keep the ball up, bring teammates into the game and offer an outlet valve for long passes, crosses and deliveries in the play.
Just like Haaland, he combines those qualities with an explosive pace.
Last season in the Bundesliga, Sesko's top speed of 35.69 km/h set him 26th of 492 players to appear in the competition. He ranked even higher in the previous campaign, on the 15th.
By focusing on Sesko, Manchester United continues a theme of trying to add pace to their attack this summer and has already signed Bryan Mbeumo, which has recorded a top speed of 36.63 km/h previous term, making him the fourth fastest player in the Premier League.
Rapid threat
The speed of Sesko can stretch the defense and destabilize. It is also a devastating weapon during the break and at transitions, something that he has demonstrated in Germany during his time.
RB Leipzig is known as one of the most effective counter-falling teams in the Land-Hun total of 17 counter-spotlights Since the beginning of last season, the second highest under Bundesliga sides, behind only Eintracht Frankfurt and Sesko has been a large part of it.
His total of five fast goals in the last two Bundesliga seasons place him third in the division, behind his RB Leipzig teammate Lois Openda and former Eintracht Frankfurt Voorar Marmoush, who each scored six.
The most recent example of Sesko came during a 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich in May, when he took away from Eric Dier to lock an Xavi Simons-Pass and send an excellent, first finish past stranded goalkeeper Jonas Urbig of long distance.
That attack saw the ball in a matter of seconds from the edge of the RB Leipzig box to the back of the Bayern Munich -Net Travel and was made possible by the speed and ruthless efficiency of Sesko.
Just like Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Sesko could help to add an incompatible threat to a side of Manchester United who scored only four fast goals in the Premier League last season.
It is also worth noting that it is not only in open spaces that Sesko can carry the ball up.
Unusual for a player of his shape, Sesko is also an accomplished dribbler with the technical skill to beat defenders in tight spaces before accelerating to the goal.
His average of 1.46 successful recording per 90 minutes was in fact the highest of every out-and-out striker in the Bundesliga last season, which emphasized a different area.
Ball-bowing sparkle
Sesko's score fee dropped somewhat when RB Leipzig went through a bad campaign in the last term, but his preference for the spectacular remains, largely thanks to his excellent bullet capacity.
That opening goal against Bayern Munich in May, curled around Urbig with the help of the outside of his boot from 40 meters, was one of the four that he scored from outside the box in the Bundesliga since the beginning of last season. Only a handful of players have scored more.
Even less can claim to have found the net from a distance with the same level of cruelty.
Sesko is able to generate amazing power with his shots, as the most memorable seen with his stinging strike against Werder Bremen in January, shot in the upper corner from 25 meters. Later it was revealed that the ball had traveled at a speed of 126.43 km/h.
That goal against Werder Bremen, such as the one five months later against Bayern, was hit with his stronger right foot, but he can also collect comparable power with his weaker foot.
For Slovenia in a Nations League match against Sweden in September 2022, he scored a sensational, left-foot volley that attracted comparisons with Marco van Basten.
The willingness of Sesko to shoot from unlikely corners and unlikely positions can be frustrating on the other side. His shot card for the last two Bundesliga seasons shows that a high percentage of his shots was statistically unlikely that goals would lead.
It is also worth noting that he has performed considerably too much compared to his expected goals at RB Leipzig, scored 27 times in the Bundesliga of only 17.7 xg during the last two seasons. The figures raise questions about whether his score rate is sustainable.
At the same time, however, knowing what he is able to easily see the logic behind his ambitious shot choices. Sesko has shown that he can score from almost everywhere. His directness can be part of his appeal to Manchester United.
Air deepness and a jump in basketball style
Another of the biggest features of Sesko is his wonderful leap.
He was a promising basketball player in his teenage years and the agility on the field can now be seen in the way he challenges headers and high balls on the field.
In combination with his height, it gives him a lead in the opposition box, as he can see when he was above the vast hand of Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to go home a rebound before Trapp could reach it during a 2-1 win in December.
That goal was one of the eight Sesko scored with his head over the last two Bundesliga seasons. It is the fourth highest total in the competition behind Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy and Tim Kleindienst, and underlines the size of his aerial photo.
It is probably another part of his appeal to Manchester United, because they want to increase their set piece threat. They rank as the lowest scorers of the Premier League of Set pieces in the past three seasons.
Still raw but with a huge potential
Sesko is not yet the completed article that only became at the end of May 22. Some elements of his game are still raw. His goals usually come in bursts instead of consistently.
A move to Old Trafford would result in considerable pressure and high expectations, but his age ensures that he has enough room to grow and develop.
There is of course an element of risk when signing Sesko for a more established option. He does not have the same productive scoring record as Haaland when he made the switch to England. Haaland had scored 86 goals in 89 matches for Borussia Dortmund, while Sesko scored 39 goals in 87 games for RB Leipzig.
But his potential is huge and the parallels in style are clear. The couple has even followed similar routes, with Sesko effectively brought in as a replacement for Haaland in the former club Red Bull Salzburg.
It is also worth noting that Sesko has already collected considerable experience, made more than 250 performances for Club and Land, with at Champions League level, and the achievement of double digits for goals in five consecutive campaigns.
He did all that, while he avoids serious damage to the injury. That sustainability is another factor to his advantage and another source of encouragement for Manchester United.