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News
- 3 hours ago
Sesko to Man Utd causes Isak-Hojlund-Barcola domino effect
Analysis
Benjamin Sesko is going to join Man Utd.
The Red Devils have had a bid of €76.5 million + €8.5 million in add-ons accepted by RB Leipzig, per David Ornstein. Sesko will now travel and have his medical, with United hoping to have his signing wrapped up before the start of next week.
Sesko's arrival will unlock so much potential within Ruben Amorim's Man Utd team, providing them with a sensational striker who could elevate the entire side to the next level. But the signing is also the first domino to fall at the close of the summer transfer window, and unlocks several other moves around Europe.
Current ETV
Benjamin Sesko
F (C)
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko
F (C)
RB Leipzig
ETV Range
€62.7M - €76.6M
With three weeks left in the summer transfer window, there are still many moves to be concluded and the thing is, many of them are triggered by Benjamin Sesko's sliding doors moment...
Having chosen Man Utd as his club, there are now moves that can and perhaps even will happen as a result. Here is a list of the moves that could fall in Sesko's wake...
Alexander Isak to Liverpool
The most obvious victim of the Sesko signing, at least on the face of it, is Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker has spent the last couple of weeks trying to convince Newcastle to sell him to Liverpool, but the Magpies have refused.
A bid was knocked back and Newcastle set the price high enough that Liverpool were maybe uninterested in pursuing.
Had Sesko chosen Newcastle then Eddie Howe's men would have been more open to the idea of selling Isak to the Reds with relatively little friction, however as they will now not be getting the Slovenian they will hold onto Isak even tighter.
That may not be enough, however, as Liverpool will surely be determined to come again for Isak. The striker's desire to leave persists, and Man Utd strengthening their attack will be something Liverpool will want to respond to as well.
STATS
Alexander Isak
F (C)
Newcastle Utd.
Alexander Isak
F (C)
Newcastle Utd.
This is not to say Isak will not join Liverpool. The Reds are persistent and, having seen Newcastle fail to pull yet another one of their many transfer targets this summer, Isak will likely be even more sure of his decision to further his career by leaving St. James' Park.
Bradley Barcola to Liverpool
But maybe Liverpool will pivot off Isak and move to Barcola?
With Newcastle being so resolute in their desire to keep Isak after missing out on Sesko, Liverpool could find it prudent to turn their attentions elsewhere.
STATS
Bradley Barcola
F (L)
PSG
Bradley Barcola
F (L)
PSG
Barcola is currently in the midst of contract renewal talk with PSG but his presence and pace would offer Liverpool a direct replacement for the departed Luis Diaz and be a frankly terrifying addition to Liverpool's attacking arsenal.
Either way, Liverpool get much stronger.
Yoane Wissa to Newcastle
Newcastle now need to make a striker signing, because much as they would like to kid themselves, Alexander Isak is not ending the transfer window with them.
He's already sitting out training and friendlies in order to force the move. There's no way back from here, not realistically given Newcastle's stature. They aren't in a position to big bro Isak, so will have to give in to his demands.
STATS
Yoane Wissa
F (C)
Brentford
Yoane Wissa
F (C)
Brentford
So on to Yoane Wissa. The Brentford striker scored 19 goals last season and is a ready-made replacement for Isak at the head of Newcastle's attack. The Magpies have already tried to sign him this summer but their bid was rejected for being too low.
Brentford's asking price could undo this whole transfer, especially as Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr are interested in Wissa and would have no trouble paying what Brentford want and offering Wissa wages beyond Newcastle's scope.
(Al-Nassr and Newcastle both being owned by the Saudi PIF should give the Geordies a bit of insight into where they rank in the hearts of their owners).
Nicolas Jackson to Newcastle
Should they fail in their pursuit of Wissa (let's be honest the way this summer has gone it's more like "when" they fail) Newcastle will have a fall-back option of Nicolas Jackson.
The Senegalese striker is on the outs in West London as Chelsea have signed Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to replace him as their striker. This means he's looking for an exit and Newcastle could provide him with one.
Except now Bayern Munich have emerged as potential suitors for the striker as well. Oh goodness, it's not going to happen again is it?!
Rasmus Hojlund to Milan
With Sesko coming in, Man Utd are now free to get rid of Rasmus Hojlund. The underperforming Dane who looks too physically slight to play in the Premier League could honestly serve as a cautionary tale for how it could all go so very wrong for Sesko.
AC Milan are rumoured to be after Hojlund, as are Atalanta. Other Serie A clubs have also been linked as a move to the Peninsula seems the most likely outcome for Hojlund's summer.
STATS
Rasmus Højlund
F (C)
Man Utd
Rasmus Højlund
F (C)
Man Utd
Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea
Now that Sesko has been acquired, at quite a significant financial outlay, Man Utd are now in the position where they probably need to sell some players to make their PSR status look a little bit nicer.
Enter (or, exit?) Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine misfit who has been bickering and battling with the club via social media for the last couple of months.
Man Utd were holding firm with a high valuation of Garnacho but the arrival of Sesko has brought that down to the point where Chelsea are now genuinely interested in taking Garnacho to West London.
This is a big risk on United's part because anyone who can generate shots as consistently as Garnacho was able to even in a bad Man Utd team is someone you should probably keep around, no matter how toxic they might be.
But Sesko's arrival necessistates some sales. And Garnacho is the obvious candidate.
Antony to Real Betis
Man Utd have been trying to sell Antony all summer, which should have been easy given how well the Brazilian played on loan at Real Betis, has actually been complicated because Antony had such a good time at Betis he only wants to go back there.
This would have meant United helping out financially as the La Liga club don't have the facilities to make the deal happen otherwise.
STATS
Antony
M, AM (R)
Man Utd
Antony
M, AM (R)
Man Utd
Well, now they've signed Sesko, United can lower their demands a bit to ensure Antony moves on given their outlay on the Slovenian, anything coming is is better than nothing!
Carlos Baleba to Man Utd
Man Utd always had to strengthen their attack this summer, but they also needed a defensive midfielder. Not as much as they needed a striker, but still.
So the club prioritised the attack. First Matheus Cunha, then Bryan Mbeumo, now Benjamin Sesko. A whole new front-line for a total cost of over €200 million.
Well, now they've got three weeks to get themselves a defensive midfielder, and who better than Carlos Baleba?
Current ETV
Carlos Baleba
DM, M (C)
Brighton
Carlos Baleba
DM, M (C)
Brighton
ETV Range
€49.8M - €60.9M
The Cameroon international is a phenomenal force in the middle of the park and the Red Devils can now put all their focus into bringing him over from Brighton.
It'll be an expensive operation, but now Sesko is sorted United have all the time in the world to lock in and get their man.
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