Benjamin Sesko shows up Alan Shearer as £64m star responds to Man Utd

Manchester United's lack of European football does not seem to have put off Benjamin Sesko, who is said to be favouring a move to Old Trafford over Newcaatle United

Benjamin Sesko has proven Alan Shearer wrong as he angles for a move to Manchester United. The Slovenian star has been heavily linked with both the Red Devils and Newcastle United as he looks set to leave RB Leipzig this summer.

Sesko, who is valued at £64million, is set to move on after Leipzig missed out on Champions League football. United will be absent from European football completely this season following a torrid 2024/25 campaign, which culminated in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final.

After that game, Shearer ripped into Ruben Amorim and his team, blasting their tactics and the club's general direction. The Newcastle icon was adamant United would struggle to attract top players without the carrot of Champions League football.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: “They’re going to have to recruit very well because clearly a lot of these players are not good enough or not suited to that style of play. They’re a million miles off it on and off the pitch and I don’t know how they get out of this.

“How do they attract top players this summer and are they even going to be able to pay for them now they’re not in the Champions League? Why would big players want to go there?”

However, contrary to Shearer’s view, it seems Sesko has not been put off by the lack of European football on offer at United amid reports he is favouring a move to Old Trafford over Newcastle, who have qualified for UEFA’s top club competition.

According to Sky in Germany, Sesko has reacted positively to United’s interest. Amorim has already strengthened his forward line this summer with big-money moves for Bryan Mbeumo - who also picked them over a club playing in the Champions League - and Matheus Cunha, but the United boss still wants to add more firepower to his squad.

Newcastle aren’t out of the race to sign the 22-year-old. The Magpies’ need for a quality forward has intensified after Alexander Isak made it clear he wants to leave the club amid interest from Liverpool.

Newcastle are under no pressure to sell their star striker but are giving serious consideration to cashing in on a Swede, who was sent home from the club’s recent friendly at Celtic before being ruled out of their pre-season tour to Asia.

Head coach Eddie Howe insists the final decision over Isak will be made by the club’s board. He said: “I wouldn't put a timescale on it. I think with these situations, it has to be right for the football club, and everything then is taken into context below that.

“But the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately, to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it’s up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. That’s what we're trying to do, regardless of Alex's situation.

“But I think there's a wider picture here. There’s a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board.”