The football community is totally stunned by Manchester’s bold move to secure RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in a deal that could consume nearly 75% of their total funds. It’s clear that Manchester United is facing a tight transfer budget this summer, reportedly under £100 million.
How will Manchester United pay for Sesko’s Transfer?
While it would not be fair to say Manchester United is in a full-blown financial crisis, they are definitely facing serious economic challenges.
Missing the 2025–26 Champions League has cost the club approximately £80–£150 million. And most notably, carrying a debt of around £713 million and slower revenue growth than rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City, United has resorted to cost-cutting measures, including staff layoffs and reduced benefits.
They have been able to cut down 450 redundancies in a year, that includes bonuses and free lunches saving several million pounds.
SUGGESTED READ: Leagues Cup 2025: Lionel Messi Ruled Out vs Pumas UNAM
But amid all this financial chaos, what truly surprised everyone is Manchester United’s bold move to target RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, whose market value stands at €70 million (£65 million).
The club has a superb tactic; they are focusing on managing their summer transfers smartly, buying and selling carefully, and some reports say their debt might not be as bad as it sounds.
A football finance expert told BBC Sports, “It is the biggest brand in English football. The redundancies do look severe, but that is the Ineos business model, they have done that at other companies. Whether it will work in football, we have to wait and see.”
The club has always found strategic ways to manage its finances; hence, it can easily pursue high-profile transfers like Benjamin Sesko.
According to sources cited by BBC’s chief football reporter Simon Stone, United have structured deals smartly this summer, including £130 million worth of transfers for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, with payments spread over time rather than paid upfront.
🚨 NEW: How Manchester United were able to fund the Sesko deal:
– United’s £12.75M wage savings on Rashford
– Staggered payment structures on Mbeumo & Cunha
– £21M in sell on fees
– Chelsea’s penalty on Sancho
– Reduced costs following major job cuts#MUFC [@TelegraphDucker] pic.twitter.com/9sx2szZJX1— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) August 6, 2025
Possibly, a similar payment plan is expected if the club lands Sesko, spreading the fee across the duration of his contract.
Besides, the club has created room in their wage bill by loaning Marcus Rashford to Barcelona, who are covering his full £325,000-per-week salary.
On top of that, the club received £5 million in compensation from Chelsea after the club backed out of a deal for Jadon Sancho, and more than £15 million from sell-on clauses involving former players like Anthony Elanga, Alvaro Carreras, and Maxi Oyedele.
From a United point of view, the deal does not seem as hard as the public might think.
Furthermore, the club’s matchday and revenue stream remain strong despite declining broadcast revenue. And they are also utilizing revolving credit facility (RCF) allowing them to draw cash up to £140 million by late spring, for immediate spending that includes transfer fee as well.
Why Benjamin Sesko?
Above all, Manchester United is desperate to solve its attacking hurdles. Last season, the club struggled to convert chances into goals, despite creating opportunities, which led to a low goal tally.
Sesko, who is often compared to Erling Haaland in potential, is seen as a game-changing player to lead the line. Last season with RB Leipzig, he was the top scorer, setting a personal record with 21 goals in all competitions.
Amit Mishra’s Take
I have no doubt about Manchester United’s strategy. As one of the most strategic clubs in the world, they will handle this efficiently and surely leave everyone amazed by how they pull it off.
And when it comes to choosing Benjamin Sesko, once again, they’re impressive. They clearly know exactly what the team needs, which shows just how determined they are to rebuild.
YOU MIGHT READ: Liverpool Agree Darwin Nunez £56.6m Deal to Al Hilal
