The collapse of the transfer deal, valued at around €80m (£69m), is a significant blow to United’s ambitions of bolstering their frontline, especially after a lackluster 44-goal Premier League campaign last season.
Sesko, who scored 13 Bundesliga goals in 2024/25 despite Leipzig’s struggles, was United’s top striker target, with the club’s recruitment director Christopher Vivell leveraging his prior connections from Salzburg and Leipzig to push for the move.
United had held exploratory talks with Leipzig and Sesko’s representatives, banking on his physicality (6ft 4in, 35.69 km/h top speed) and potential to mirror Erling Haaland’s impact. However, Newcastle’s offer of Champions League football and a compelling project under Eddie Howe swayed Sesko, who had a gentleman’s agreement with Leipzig allowing a transfer for €80m-€90m. Newcastle’s urgency was driven by Alexander Isak’s desire to leave, with the Magpies poised to fund the deal through a potential £150m sale of their star striker.
Amorim’s squad now faces a critical shortage upfront. Rasmus Højlund, who scored four league goals last season, has shown improvement in pre-season, notably in United’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth, but his inconsistency remains a concern. Joshua Zirkzee, another option, has struggled to adapt, and with Marcus Rashford on loan at Barcelona and Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony facing potential exits, United’s attack lacks depth.
New signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha add pace but aren’t natural No. 9s, leaving Amorim reliant on unproven or underperforming players. The manager’s 3-4-3 system, which demands a focal point to hold up play and connect with wingers, may require tactical tweaks, possibly reverting to a 4-4-2 to maximize Højlund’s link-up play.
The transfer saga exposes United’s financial constraints, with the Sesko deal’s collapse tied to their inability to offload high-wage players to balance the books. Alternative targets like Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson were deemed too costly, and Leipzig’s firm stance on Sesko’s valuation left little room for negotiation.
Amorim, who had hoped to emulate his success with Viktor Gyökeres at Sporting Lisbon, now faces pressure to deliver results with a threadbare squad. Newcastle’s coup, meanwhile, bolsters their attacking options and signals their intent to compete at the elite level, leaving United scrambling to salvage their transfer window before the August 2025 deadline.
