Man Utd plotting the ultimate transfer hijack for spectacular striker who may never play for his new club

Man Utd are one of three giant clubs mulling the ultimate hijack for an eye-catching striker who has already agreed a transfer for 2023, per a report.

Who will lead the line for Manchester United in 2023 is anyone’s guess at present. Cristiano Ronaldo got the nod last season, though a recent report from the Telegraph claimed Erik ten Hag has reversed his call on the striker’s future.

The Dutch boss is now reportedly open to selling Ronaldo in January – providing a suitable offer arrives.

ESPN pushed back on those claims, stressing Ten Hag won’t gladly rid himself of such a reliable scorer of goals. However, one thing is for sure, Ronaldo is not at the forefront of Ten Hag’s mind.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both appear ahead of the Portuguese great in the pecking order.

Whether they do enough to convince the new manager they’re the man to be trusted in 2023 and beyond is dependant on how they perform this season.

Regardless, if Ronaldo leaves in 2023, United will need a new option up top. According to 90min, the man to fill that void could be Benjamin Sesko.

The 19-year-old Slovenian currently plies his trade for RB Salzburg in Austria. However, it was announced in August that he would join sister club RB Leipzig next summer ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

Leipzig forked out just €24m (approx. £21m) – a figure well below his true market value. The bargain deal was struck in part due to the connection between the two clubs.

What will it take to twist Leipzig’s arm?

But per 90min, Man Utd, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are all plotting to hijack the deal before Sesko ever plays a game for Leipzig.

They state the trio are all ‘considering offers’ and hope to tempt Leipzig into a quickfire sale next summer.

Their hopes will be reliant on Leipzig being willing to make a quick buck on the player. Indeed, it’s claimed if Sesko continues to impress in Salzburg this season, his true value could soar above £50m.

A bid in that range would more than double Leipzig’s investment without Sesko ever having played a game for the club.

Sesko was heavily linked with the Red Devils over the summer. However, the Red Bull connection proved too strong to overcome.

If they’re to sign Sesko at the second time of asking, they’ll need to make Leipzig an offer too good to refuse.

Benjamin Sesko worth the money?

Standing at 6ft 5in tall, Sesko is a handful for any and all defences despite being only 19.

His goals record isn’t overly impressive, with just five goals notched in 14 appearances this season. He finished the last campaign with 11 in 37, though it’s important to remember he’s still a teenager.

Regardless, his all-around game is catching the eye and a recent Marco van Basten-esque volley was a sight to behold.

The fact other European giants are also chasing Sesko will embolden Man Utd.

One often starts to worry if a club are the only one that seem to rate a potential target highly.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo urged to consider left-field transfer option after Ten Hag ruling on Man Utd future