Manchester United may have been handed a free choice in their bid to secure a striker this summer, as Newcastle United could walk away from Benjamin Šeško and Ollie Watkins.
Manchester United have been searching for a new centre forward all summer, due to the poor form of both Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season, with just 17 goals between them in approximately 100 appearances.
Liam Delap was the target at the beginning of the summer transfer window, but the English striker moved to Chelsea from Ipswich Town instead, meaning United missed out on a £30 million bargain.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo both joined the Red Devils, but it is believed that they will play as attacking midfielders, rather than as centre forwards, although both can play through the middle.
United then narrowed their search to just Benjamin Šeško and Ollie Watkins. The club were in the midst of deciding which striker would be the best for Rúben Amorim’s side, before an Alexander Isak-shaped bombshell changed everything.
Newcastle set to leave striker hunt
Newcastle’s search for a striker has been going on longer than the Isak transfer saga, but many feel that if the Swede were to remain in the North East, a new centre forward may not be necessary, at least not a big-money signing.
Transfer specialist Ben Jacobs has now reported that Liverpool have pulled out of their interest in Isak, as they believe Newcastle won’t change their stance on the striker, who they are asking for £150 million.
Liverpool have already signed Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike for hefty transfer fees, and may not be able to afford a move for the Swedish international at this price.
Newcastle were believed to have cooled their interest in RB Leipzig’s Sesko after United made a move for the Slovenian, but they have kept Watkins and Jorgen Strand Larsen on their shortlist for transfers.
However, they appear set to retain Isak and may pursue a younger centre forward at a lower price, rather than paying over £60 million for Šeško or Watkins, who have both been touted as “perfect” options for United this summer.
United could take their time on Sesko
Now that United have an open door to sign Sesko from Leipzig, they could take their time to sign the Slovenian, as they did when signing Mbeumo from Brentford.
While Jason Wilcox doesn’t have as much time as he did on the Brentford deal, he may choose to prioritise selling Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho before making a move for the centre forward.
Højlund’s pre-season form may give Amorim confidence in the Dane, and leave him happy to wait for a new striker until Deadline Day if it helps United work on other transfers.
United need to remain active in the transfer market as they could still sign a midfielder and a goalkeeper, as well as needing to sell “The Bomb Squad” and potentially Altay Bayindir.
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