Sesko goal shows why Man Utd and Liverpool are interested

FT Desk

• Updated: 27 Sept 2022 20:55 BST
• 3 min read

Red Bull Salzburg forward Benjamin Seko underlined his potential with a stunning volleyed goal for Slovenia against Sweden Tuesday evening.

Sesko will join RB Leipzig in a €24 million deal next July, but that won't stop the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool from moving for him in due course.

The Slovenian 19-year-old only joined Salzburg from NK Domzale in the summer of 2019, spending his first two seasons after his move on loan at their feeder club, FC Liefering.

Sesko bagged 11 goals and laid on seven more in all competitions last season as Salzburg won the Austrian domestic double, but he really caught the attention of the wider European game in pre-season.

Sesko bagged goals against Champions League regulars Ajax and Liverpool, and a moment of skill from the 6'5" striker against the Reds left Jurgen Klopp agog on the touchline.

Many more scouts will have been in attendance for Slovenia's UEFA Nations League Group B4 meeting with Sweden on Tuesday, with Sesko having attracted significant interest in the months since.

Sesko's Haaland-esque stunner

United and Liverpool were disappointed to miss out on Sesko. The Red Devils have made do with Marcus Rashford this season, the academy graduate having come good in recent weeks under Erik ten Hag. Liverpool instead spent €100m on Benfica's Darwin Nunez, meanwhile.

The second of Sesko's three Nations League goals this season came as Slovenia beat Erling Haaland's Norway 2-1 last Saturday.

The parallels with the big Norwegian are readily apparent. Both have speed and technique which belies their hulking frames, they each put themselves on the European map at Salzburg, and on Tuesday's evidence, Sesko can smash home left-footed wondergoals just as well.

Sesko has signed a five-year deal with Leipzig, but the chances of him seeing that out on his current trajectory appear to be slim to none.

Currently ranked at €10m, his value will skyrocket if he continues to perform like this in one of Europe's five major league.