Manchester United are reportedly in talks with RB Leipzig over a player-plus-cash deal for Benjamin Šeško. But this isn’t just another transfer rumor in a chaotic window. The proposed swap, which could send Rasmus Højlund the other way, is more than a transaction. It’s a mirror held up to a club still wrestling with its identity.
Højlund, signed for $93 million in August 2023, was supposed to be the answer. Young, mobile, intense, a striker who could grow within the system envisioned by then-manager Erik ten Hag. And yet, a year later, United are open to using him as a bargaining chip. Not because he failed spectacularly, but because the club is once again asking itself: did we pick the right project?
New manager Rúben Amorim has praised Højlund publicly, particularly after the striker scored twice in a 4–1 preseason win over Bournemouth. “People focus on the goals and we suffer a lot because of the lack of goals,” Amorim said. “I think not just the goals, but the way he connects the play every time we have to kick the ball [long]. The ability for him to hold the defender and to connect in support is helping us a lot to play better, and we are playing better because he’s playing better. I’m really happy with Rasmus. I don’t know what is going to happen until the end of the market.”
United have made mistakes at this position before. Plenty of them. Falcao. Lukaku. Martial. Ibrahimović. Cavani. Ronaldo (part two). A pattern of short-term thinking dressed up as ambition. In Højlund, they thought they were breaking the cycle. Maybe they weren’t.
Šeško, by contrast, represents the same archetype with subtle but meaningful differences. He’s also 22. Also tall, fast, and physically gifted, traits that a soon Isak-less Newcastle also admires. But scouts see a cleaner finisher, a more instinctive mover in the box, and a player more naturally suited to a counter-pressing system. If United are looking for a striker who can lead the line and define their tactical identity, Šeško might be closer to that vision.
This isn’t about giving up on Højlund. It’s about whether United can finally commit to a plan and stay with it. If they believe Šeško fits better, so be it. But that decision can’t be reversed next summer.
Leipzig’s model vs United’s churn
What makes this story so revealing is the contrast between the clubs. RB Leipzig have long played the long game: identify, develop, sell. Manchester United, for more than a decade, have chased forwards like lottery tickets. The potential swap is telling. Leipzig see value in Højlund. United see potential in Šeško. Both are acting in character. The difference is, only one club has a proven track record of making that character work.
This summer, United have already spent over $155 million on Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and Matheus Cunha from Wolves. Both are high-energy forwards who can press and stretch defenses. Add Šeško to that mix, and the vision becomes clear: build an attack defined by movement, pace, and youth. But vision without consistency is just noise.
If United truly believe Šeško is the better fit, they have to treat him not as a savior, but as a system piece. A player to build with, not build around. If they don’t, they’ll be back here next summer. New name. Same mistake.
