This was their 14th defeat in the Premier League, the most losses in any campaign since the competition’s inception, and judging from the safety-first approach employed by manager Erik ten Hag, more losses are on the cards.

After their most recent hammering at the hands of Crystal Palace, the Dutchman decided to finally shut shop against the Gunners and that resulted in United enjoying the majority of possession but hardly threatened the opposition goal.

Even with the clock ticking down, the Red Devils showed little urgency and the form of Rasmus Hojlund is another concern.

Rasmus’ difficult debut season

The Dane is hardly getting any service from his fellow attackers while the 21-year-old seems to be struggling with the physicality in the English top flight and is often seen backing into defenders trying to hold on to the ball.

With his full focus on trying to win the physical battle, he mostly ends up losing the ball and that does not allow the team to relieve some of the pressure.

Ten Hag had asked for reinforcements last summer as well as in January as he felt it would be wrong to overburden the Denmark international considering his limited experience.

But no help was forthcoming and with Marcus Rashford’s form falling off a cliff while Anthony Martial remains sidelined, Ten Hag has had no choice but to keep playing Hojlund, who looks in need of a break.

Sesko remains a target

An elite summer signing is required to alleviate some of the pressure off the former Atalanta starlet’s shoulders and one name that has been doing the rounds for quite some time is Benjamin Sesko, currently of RB Leipzig.

The Slovenian was a major target back when he was playing at sister club RB Salzburg, and the 20-year-old earned a move to the Bundesliga last summer and has carried on in the same vein.

In 21 starts across all competitions, Sesko has 17 goals and two assists and is the club’s second top-scorer this season with Leipzig currently fourth and enroute to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.

Benjamin Šeško’s agent was in attendance at Old Trafford for Manchester United-Arsenal.

Here’s Elvis Basanovic posting from the stadium ahead of summer transfer window. pic.twitter.com/q7YJt1IpIg

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 13, 2024

And the rumour mill was sent into overdrive as his agent Elvis Basanovic was spotted at Old Trafford, watching the United-Arsenal game.

This is not the first United game the agent has attended with Basanovic also spotted at The Theatre of Dreams for the clash against Liverpool back in April.

Sesko’s agent spotted at OT

He could have been there simply to watch the game or to talk with the club regarding a summer move. Both clubs have been linked with a move with INEOS keen to pair him up with Hojlund.

The young striker has a release clause of €50 million and there were reports that the Bundesliga club are open to selling him for less than that amount.

But the Slovenia international has been on fire in the second half of the campaign and is currently on a run of scoring in six straight Bundesliga games. And his release clause is said to have increased by €15 million.

It will be intriguing to see where Sesko lands up. Whether United target someone experienced alongside the Denmark international or whether they choose to go down the route of adding young talent in the summer remains to be seen.

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Manchester United travelled to South London to face Crystal Palace on Monday night and returned with a negative-three-goal differential as well as plenty of question marks on Erik ten Hag’s project.

Man United’s defence and midfield were nothing short of embarrassing, seemingly doing little to stop Palace’s attackers from driving toward their goal and rattling the net four times.

Still, do not let their performance take the spotlight away from United’s toothless frontline, which appeared clueless in the absence of Bruno Fernandes.

At this point, everyone agrees that a new goal-scorer needs to be high on INEOS’ summer shopping list.

However, a report from Germany suggests United may struggle to get their long-term attacking target Benjamin Sesko, owing to the value of his release clause rising ahead of the summer transfer window.

In April, the Peoples Person relayed a report claiming RB Leipzig would be open to facilitating the 20-year-old striker’s exit. It read:

“The €50m (£42m) release clause in Sesko’s current contract may not need to be activated in order for him to leave, with Leipzig open-minded about the structure of any deal providing that ballpark valuation is met.”

According to Sky Sport Germany journalist Philipp Hinze, the Slovenian’s price tag could change, but in the opposite direction to what United or his other suitors would prefer.

The journalist states that due to Sesko’s impressive performance in the second half of the campaign, his release clause has risen to €65m. The young talent has scored five goals in his last five Bundesliga appearances.

It is thought that his release clause is dependent on many factors, including game time, goals, and assists. Hinze claims that “in the maximum case, the sum can rise to €70m-€75m.”

To make matters worse, AC Milan have also joined the race for his signature, as they look to replace Olivier Giroud.

According to Calciomercato, apart from Sesko, the Italian giants are also monitoring Bologna talisman Joshua Zirkzee, another United transfer target.

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Serhou Guirassy is not a target for Manchester United this summer.

The Red Devils have had a terrible season in front of goal despite March and April seeing a sharp increase in the amount of times the side found the back of the net.

A total of 47 goals in 32 league games is well below par for a team of United’s stature.

A plethora of wing options and strikers have failed to turn up for the majority of the season, so these struggles should come as no surprise.

The poor form of Marcus Rashford, as well as injuries to Anthony Martial, have largely placed all the pressure on Rasmus Hojlund, who has had a mixed bag of a debut season in England.

With Martial leaving this summer, United have made a new striker a priority for the summer with names such as Benjamin Sesko, Harry Kane and Joshua Zirkzee all discussed.

However one name that looks unlikely is that of VfB Stuttgart striker, Guirassy.

The Guinean forward was heavily linked to United back in January and it was even reported that Erik ten Hag’s side made an unsuccessful approach in the winter window.

Nonetheless, according to GIVEMESPORT, “Serhou Guirassy is ‘not a target’ for Manchester United heading into the 2024 summer transfer window”.

“Our sources indicate that despite links to a move to Manchester United, Guirassy is not actually being considered by the Old Trafford outfit”.

The news may come as a surprise considering the 28 year old’s fine form of 27 goals this season, reported desire to move to England, and relatively cheap release clause of €17.5 million.

However, United harbour concerns over the player.

“Guirassy doesn’t quite fit with what United are looking for. The forward they target in the summer is likely to be younger and have a higher ceiling over the coming years, after the Guinea international turned 28 last month. Whilst his release clause looks reasonable, there is unlikely to be any re-sale value, especially if he fails to hit the ground running in the Premier League”.

Moreover his tally of 14 goals last season and 12 the previous year, suggest the player is enjoying a purple patch far beyond his normal standard this season.

The same outlet claimed recently that United aim to pair the 20-year-old Sesko with Hojlund as they believe the players will function well together and over time will develop a better partnership than with an older striker.

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Manchester United’s defensive frailties nearly crashed them out of the FA Cup over the weekend.

Erik ten Hag’s side managed to put three goals past Coventry City in less than an hour, injecting plenty of confidence into their supporters at Wembley.

However, the old habits that have ensured a negative goal difference in the Premier League this season so far, resurfaced and the Red Devils conceded three goals in less than twenty minutes in an absolute capitulation.

Since the penalty shootout win, Erik ten Hag has highlighted multiple times how happy he is with the result. However, the club’s hierarchy must have noticed the glaring defensive issues in his side and should do everything in their power to address the same this summer.

Interestingly, a report from France suggests they plan to do exactly that and have already laid some of the groundwork.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Sébastien Denis, United have been monitoring RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba for weeks.

The French defender, who moved to Germany from Lyon only last summer, has seamlessly replaced Josko Gvardiol in the RB Leipzig fold.

Lukeba has made 28 appearances in the Bundesliga this season and has caught eyes with his composure in possession and impressive physicality.

United appear to be one of the many clubs interested in the 21-year-old defender. It is not going to be easy for his suitors to sign him this summer, however.

Denis reveals Lukeba has a release clause of €70m which is only valid from 2025, and Leipzig have no desire to sell him in the upcoming transfer window.

Furthermore, Lukeba is not the only Leipzig star on United’s radar. The Premier League giants have also been linked with Benjamin Šeško amid Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles in front of goal and lack of striker options at Ten Hag’s disposal.

The Slovenian striker has been followed by United since his RB Salzburg days and it is understood he has a €50 million release clause in his contract, though Leipzig may be able to be convinced to sell at a lower price this summer.

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Manchester United aim to pair Benjamin Sesko with Rasmus Hojlund next season.

The Red Devils have struggled to score goals all season and when they have, the strikes have tended to be from the midfield or wings. Yesterday, in the 3-3 FA cup draw with Coventry City, the Old Trafford side scored three goals but two came from the midfield and one from the defence.

United have only scored 47 goals in 32 league matches all season and only six teams have netted less than Erik ten Hag’s side.

Most of the pressure has fallen on the 21-year-old Rasmus Hojlund who, in spite of his penalty shootout heroics yesterday at Wembley, has struggled for form throughout the season, barring an incredible purple patch in January and February.

As a result, it has been confirmed by numerous sources that INEOS will certainly be bringing in a striker this summer to ease the burden on the young Dane.

A plethora of forwards have been linked to the club, such as Harry Kane, Ivan Toney and Joshua Zirkzee. However, another forward that the club have a significant interest in is Red Bull Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

United have been linked to the player since the days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, so will have scouted the Slovenian extensively. In addition it has been reported that the player could well be available for less than his £42 million release clause this summer window.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has added to the story by telling GIVEMESPORT, “Sesko has got a €50 million release clause, and Manchester United are happy to move for a younger profile of striker which might not have been the case if Rasmus Hojlund hadn’t hit form and started scoring goals.”

It is reported that Toney and Evan Ferguson are also targets for United but there is concern over both players’ price.

“The thing about Sesko compared to Ferguson, Toney and others is that there is a real feeling that the release clause, or a number close to it, represents value. I think in addition to the fact that wages would be significantly lower than Toney and probably Ferguson as well, there might be a financial argument to bringing in Sesko, who’s got a very high ceiling.”

Most interestingly of all, there is a belief in the club that Sesko could pair very well with United’s current first choice striker.

“Also Manchester United feel that Hojlund and Sesko can work very well together.”

At 20 years old, Sesko is only one year younger than Hojlund, so their playing timelines fit perfectly together, alongside the 19-year-old pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.

In addition, the striker has been praised for his excellent finishing technique and his threat on the counterattack: “Šeško is a unique gem in attack who could very well end up being Slovenia’s answer to Zlatan Ibrahimović”.

The arrival of the talented young striker would certainly upgrade the squad’s depth and would be yet another starlet to gel with United’s current exciting crop of youngsters.

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The number nine position is an area of the pitch Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS want to reinforce ahead of the summer transfer window. United are eager to bring in an ideal partner for young Rasmus Hojlund, who despite showing glimpses of his brilliance and potential, still needs help in leading the line for the club.

Already, United have been linked to multiple strikers including Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee, Palmeiras’ Thalys, Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and of course Sesko.

The Red Devils’ interest in Sesko can be traced as far back as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s managerial reign when the player was still at RB Salzburg. Last summer, he snubbed United to complete a switch to Leipzig.

Sesko, has been previously branded a “supernatural talent”, has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland. Both made their name at Salzburg before proceeding to move to Germany.

However, United’s admiration for Sesko is believed to still be intact. A previous report covered by The Peoples Person noted that the 20-year-old fits the mould of the kind of striker INEOS want – a young and capable talisman with an eye for goal and plenty of room for improvement.

Chelsea were mentioned to be in for Sesko and according to The Standard who have provided an update on the Slovenian’s situation, Arsenal are also now keen on adding him to Mikel Arteta’s ranks.

The newspaper states, “Arsenal are stepping up their plans to sign a forward this summer, with RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko on their radar.”

“Manager Mikel Arteta wants to add more firepower to his squad next season and the club have scouted 6ft 4in Sesko as they consider their options.”

“Arsenal will face competition for the 20-year-old Slovenian, with Chelsea and Manchester United also tracking him. Sesko’s representatives have been guests at both Chelsea and Manchester United matches this season.”

The Standard explain that Leipzig are planning for life without Sesko as interest in his services mounts. The Bundesliga giants are currently sounding out replacements.

There is a €50million (£42.7m) release clause contained in Sesko’s contract, which is set to become active in the summer.

The Radece-born star has plundered 13 goals for Leipzig in 37 appearances across all competitions this term. He also has two assists to his name.

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RB Leipzig are not only open to selling Manchester United target Benjamin Sesko this summer but could also sell for a deal lower than his £42m release clause.

The Red Devils have struggled for goals all season and there have been moments where the club has had no true number nine available.

Rasmus Hojlund was recruited in the summer but the 21 year old initially struggled, failing to open his account in the Premier League until December.

Back up striker, Anthony Martial, has largely been anonymous scoring two goals in 19 appearances for the Red Devils.

An injury in mid-December has put paid to the Frenchman’s season and with only a little over of a month left, it seems unlikely the striker will play for the club again, as his contract runs out this summer.

Therefore, signing a striker to support Hojlund has become a major issue to address in the summer and the club have been linked to targets such as Lois Openda, Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney.

However, according to 90Min, there is some good news regarding another striker target in the form of Leipzig’s Sesko.

“The 20-year-old is one of Europe’s most sought after young strikers having enjoyed a fine debut season with Leipzig, whom he has scored 12 goals for in 36 games across all competitions”.

“After one year in the Bundesliga though, sources have told 90min Sesko is open to a new challenge, and Leipzig would be willing to facilitate an exit”.

“The €50m (£42m) release clause in Sesko’s current contract may not need to be activated in order for him to leave, with Leipzig open-minded about the structure of any deal providing that ballpark valuation is met”.

In addition, the Slovenian’s most likely destination is the Premier League where United, Arsenal and Newcastle all harbour an interest in the player.

The Red Devils “remain in the market for another striker, but they are now more willing to bring in a younger option like Sesko as opposed to a veteran due to the improved form of Rasmus Hojlund in the second half of this season”.

United have had their eye on the 20 year old for quite some time and were in talks to sign the player in the summer of 2022, but no deal materialised.

It was also reported that Sesko’s release clause would kick in next summer but news that the Bundesliga outfit may sell for lower will be welcomed by the likes of the Old Trafford outfit.

The striker has been described as a “diamond in the rough. Possessing rapid speed with good mobility and dribbling for a 1.93m striker. Blessed with a swagger and level of flair. Flicks, tricks, turns and spins”.

“He’s the type of striker who throws his body at the ball to score. Similar to a young Zlatan Ibrahimović and in some ways, Erling Haaland”.

A young hungry striker who is obsessed with scoring goals available for less than £42m sounds a very appetising deal for United to pursue as one of the biggest problems the team has is the lack of genuine goal scorers.

A frontline of Hojlund and Sesko may lack experience, but it has bags of potential. Furthermore, a move for the youngster would fit with INEOS’ objectives of signing the next star rather than pursuing ready-made products like Osimhen, Kane or Toney.

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