Topics: Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Ruben Amorim, Football, Premier League, Ollie Watkins
Newcastle United's summer transfer window could be heading towards another setback with Manchester United reportedly stealing a march in their pursuit of a major attacking target.
Man Utd are in the market for a new striker and speculation is intensifying as the start of the Premier League season approaches.
With Alexander Isak hovering around the exit door and a host of other targets landing elsewhere, Newcastle face missing out on RB Leipzig centre-forward Benjamin Sesko too.
According to reporting by Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook for talkSPORT, the Red Devils have made their move in order to avoid letting another transfer target of their own slip through their fingers.
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After Viktor Gyokeres opted to join Arsenal from Sporting CP, Man Utd are understood to have narrowed their striker shopping list and have approached Leipzig to get the ball rolling for the Slovenian.
"Manchester United have opened talks for Benjamin Sesko after sending a delegation to Germany to meet with RB Leipzig officials," report the talkSPORT correspondents.
"The move for Sesko [is] being driven by Red Devils head of recruitment Christopher Viviell.
"Chief negotiator Matt Hargreaves arrived a few days ago with United aware they have to move fast with Newcastle also pushing for Sesko’s signature."
It's also reported that United are in touch with Sesko's team directly, with the club believing they can do a deal for around €70 million.
Despite the club advancing their interest in the 22-year-old, Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim has eyes for a more experienced striker with proven Premier League pedigree.
Jacobs and Crook report that Amorim would prefer Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, with whom United have been linked frequently in recent weeks.
It's clear that the Red Devils have an interest in the 29-year-old but Villa have indicated that he's not for sale.
If they're not willing to get close to Villa's rumoured valuation, Watkins might be unconvinced that United – who cannot offer Villa's record Premier League goalscorer European football of any description this season – really want him at all.
United have already spent big money on the makings of a formidable forward line in the current transfer window, adding both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to Amorim's attacking weaponry for much higher fees than they seem to be willing to offer for the England striker.
