Manchester United have reportedly been in discussions with Red Bull Salzburg over a possible deal for Benjamin Sesko during this summer's transfer window.
The 19-year-old's future has recently been the subject of much speculation, with a number of teams said to be keen to sign him in the current market.
Sesko has started the 2022-23 campaign in impressive form for his Austrian club, scoring twice and providing one assist in three appearances in all competitions.
Meanwhile, he has now scored 13 goals and registered eight assists in 41 matches for Salzburg, enjoying a breakthrough season at the club in 2021-22.
A recent report claimed that Man United football director John Murtough met with the teenager's agent last week to discuss a possible switch to Old Trafford this summer.
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According to Sky Sports News, the 20-time English champions have now held initial talks with the Red Bulls over a possible deal during the current transfer window.
However, the report claims that there is a huge gap in the valuation of the player by the two clubs, with Salzburg not under any pressure to sell the in-demand youngster.
Man United are allegedly currently deciding whether to make an official offer for the striker, as they run the risk of losing him to another club if they do not make a move before the end of the market.
Salzburg have Sesko on a contract until June 2026, and it is believed that the Austrian champions will not consider a sale unless they receive a substantial offer.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Chelsea also met with the forward's agent last week, while another club are in the race alongside the Blues and Man United.
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Romano, on his official Twitter account, has said that Salzburg want to keep the teenager for another season, but it will be up to the player to decide his future.
Sesko, who has won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup, has also found the back of the net twice in 13 caps for Slovakia, last netting against Serbia in the UEFA Nations League in June.
The forward's agent Elvis Basanovic told SPOX in 2019 that a number of "really big clubs" wanted to sign his client, but Salzburg paid in the region of £2.2m to acquire from from Donzale.
"We had a lot of offers from really big clubs," Basanovic said. "Had we decided on the money, Benjamin would have moved to England or Italy. But we decided to look at the bigger picture and the Salzburg project. The biggest clubs in Europe tried to get him. The interest in him was huge; I have never seen anything like it before."
Man United are said to be planning to bring at least one attacker to the club before the end of the transfer window regardless of whether Cristiano Ronaldo stays beyond the deadline.
Matt Law
