The stunning £43m signing that Man Utd must beat Newcastle United to this year

Another day, another name tossed onto the bonfire of idle speculation at Old Trafford. Manchester United are in possession of a gaping void at the top end of the pitch and, after discovering that Rasmus Hojlund alone is not enough to plug it, they are now in the market for a new striker once again.

Already, several prospective candidates have been tentatively mentioned, from the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney to Brian Brobbey and Serhou Guirassy, but according to reports, the latest player to have entranced the Red Devils is RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. To that end, you can certainly understand why.

The 20-year-old is a precocious talent who first made an impact on the continental game during a promising stint with RB Salzburg. That, in turn, earned him a move to Leipzig in the summer, and he has begun to repay the Bundesliga outfit's faith with a return of seven goals in 24 outings across all competitions thus far. For his native Slovenia, he has registered 10 strikes in 25 senior caps already, and there is a growing feeling that he could be biggest star to come out of the Balkan state since Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

It is perhaps understandable, therefore, that Sesko is said to have a release clause of around £43 million written into his current deal in Germany. That figure might not be the most exorbitant, especially given the inflated nature of the transfer market at this present moment in time, but it should certainly be enough to ward off most casual interest for a while.

The extent which United's fixation is cursory remains to be seen, but at the very least, they are not alone in their admiration. Reports elsewhere suggest that Newcastle United are keen on Sesko, and could be in the process of putting together a concrete bid of their own for the striker. Any potential offer might have to wait until that aforementioned release clause comes into effect at the end of the season, but it is not difficult to imagine the Magpies making a move for a player who, in many respects, fits the exact profile of their recent recruitment strategy; he is, after all, young, prodigious, and could boast a substantial resale value in years to come.

Those reasons alone should be enough to convince Manchester United that they need to consider firming up their own interest, but there are others besides. Sesko, while still yet to properly realise his full potential, is steadily morphing into a very handy, well-rounded attacking focal point. One of the most obvious strengths to his game is his ability to hold up play and bring those around him into the game, but there is also an individualistic streak to the Slovenian that catches the eye too. Gifted with the ball at his feet, he is capable of driving his side up the field with powerful spates of running, or of splitting defences with his incisive passing.

Granted, there are reasons to be sceptical about a swoop for Sesko. Like Hojlund, he is not yet the finished article, and his goal return is not quite as dizzying as other players United have been linked with. Then, of course, there is the fact that any transfer would have to wait until the summer, when the Red Devils could really use a boost in the here and now.

But if United are willing to be patient, and willing to give an undeniable talent the time to grow, they could land themselves a sublime attacking prospect who would benefit them for years to come. Provided they can fend off the Toon Army, that is...