Man United could be about to revisit former £42m-rated transfer target to replace Anthony Martial after agent is seen at Old Trafford

Man United could be about to revisit former £42m-rated transfer target to replace Anthony Martial after agent is seen at Old Trafford

Man United are set to say farewell to Anthony Martial this summer, meaning he will need replacing

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, was present for Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

United tried to sign the striker in the 2022 summer transfer window when he was on the books of Red Bull Salzburg. As reported by the Manchester Evening News at the time, former United football director John Murtough met with Basanovic to gauge the possibility of a transfer.

United failed to strengthen their attack with the addition of a centre-forward that summer.

The only out-and-out striker who arrived during the 2022/23 season was Wout Weghorst, who was drafted in on loan from Burnley in January.

United bolstered their attack last summer, signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta. He has scored 14 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions this season.

Anthony Martial is set to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of next month and United will have to replace him in order to give Hojlund some sufficient competition at the top end of the pitch.

They have been linked with a collection of options who could provide that support, ranging from Brentford striker Ivan Toney to Lille ace Jonathan David.

In recent weeks, however, reports overseas have connected them with Sesko once again.

The Slovenian, who will turn 21 at the very end of this month, joined Leipzig last summer for a reported fee of €24million. The deal between Salzburg and Leipzig had been agreed 12 months earlier.

Sesko has scored 17 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig this season, including 13 in 30 Bundesliga outings. Having netted a respectable tally of goals in his debut season in Germany, he is being linked with a move away from Leipzig ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

United, along with Arsenal, have been credited with interest in him and it has been widely reported that he has a release clause within his contract that will become active this summer. It is said to be worth €65m, whereas it was reportedly worth €42m as recently as January.

After splashing out an initial fee of £64m on Hojlund last summer, it remains to be seen if United will invest as heavily in a second striker in as many years.

The Dane was drafted in to become the face of the club’s forward line for both the here and now and for the future, but his maiden season at Old Trafford has made it clear that he requires some form of reliable competition.

Martial has not made a matchday squad since December after undergoing groin surgery and will leave the club when his contract expires. He has made just 19 appearances this term