Sesko has already told Man Utd which Erling Haaland trait he'll bring to club

Benjamin Sesko is getting closer to a move to Manchester United but the RB Leipzig striker has been compared to Manchester City star Erling Haaland in the past

Manchester United transfer target Benjamin Sesko has earned comparisons to Erling Haaland and the 22-year-old hopes to become "even better" than the Manchester City star. Sesko is currently at the centre of a major transfer battle.

Newcastle had an opening bid for Sesko rejected by RB Leipzig, but have since returned with an improved offer worth an initial £69.5million plus £8.6m in add-ons. The Red Devils, meanwhile, have also lodged a bid of £65.2m up front and £8.6m in add-ons.

However, it is claimed that those in Manchester are confident that Sesko prefers a move to Old Trafford over a switch to Newcastle. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Sesko, but he is an exciting young prospect who has been compared to Haaland.

Sesko did essentially replace Haaland at Red Bull Salzburg after he left the club for Borussia Dortmund and the Slovenia international has claimed that most of his team-mates believe that he is better.

Addressing the comparisons, Sesko explained that his electric pace was the trait most similar to Haaland. "Such comparisons motivate me and give me energy," he said.

"They do not represent pressure. I will listen and learn, so I can be even better than he is. My teammates at the club tell me that Haaland and I are very similar, especially in terms of speed. Most of them even tell me that I'm better than him!"

Sesko also regards Haaland as one of his idols, adding: "He's an amazing player, I've big respect for him and I usually watch many YouTube videos about him. I'm very happy I received Haaland's jersey. I want [to] keep it for my jersey collection. He also said 'well played', I was very happy."

The Red Devils do have a potential edge over Newcastle in the form of Christopher Vivell, who is currently working as their director of recruitment. Vivell has been credited for discovering Sesko when he was at Salzburg and spearheading their move for the striker.

And Vivell has previously stated that Sesko is a "special player" who has "enormous potential". Speaking back in 2022, Vilvell said: "Benjamin Sesko is among the game's top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player.

"He has all the qualities to do that. He's extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6'4") is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile."