Manchester United were not the only club in the mix for Benjamin Sesko this summer.
Ineos ended up paying £66m to RB Leipzig for the striker, but there were other clubs interested in him as well.
Newcastle United had also been linked with Sesko, though he made it clear he only wanted a move to Old Trafford. Arsenal had even spoken with him earlier in the window.
The move may have also impacted Barcelona, who were looking at the Slovenian striker as a potential future replacement for Robert Lewandowski. But with him off the market, that deal may now be harder to pull off.
Man United ruined Barcelona’s plan to sign Benjamin Sesko
Sesko is already turning heads at United, fitting well into Ruben Amorim’s plans and showing he has the right attributes for the Premier League.
His potential has not gone unnoticed, and there were signs that Barcelona had their eye on him too.
Spanish outlet Sport reported that Deco saw Sesko as an ideal fit to step in for Robert Lewandowski when the time came.
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But Barcelona were not in a position to compete financially with United this summer, and that has forced them to rethink their long-term plans.
With Sesko now out of reach, Barcelona will need to look elsewhere, which could work in United’s favour next summer.
Barcelona’s hopes of landing Marcus Rashford just got a boost
Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Barcelona remains the only significant exit from Old Trafford so far this summer, with Sky Sports reporting the buy option is set at £26 million.
With their pursuit of Sesko now off the table, Barcelona could be even more inclined to make Rashford’s move permanent next year. The deal already seemed likely, and recent developments only strengthen that possibility.
Rashford has never been totally comfortable as a striker for United, but he seems open to playing that role in Spain if needed, as he did in pre-season.
With Lewandowski nearing the end of his career, Barca need a long-term solution up front. Rashford offers them an affordable option, and United look set to benefit financially from his departure.
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