Manchester City monitoring RB Leipzig forward with release clause becoming active this summer

Manchester City are reportedly keeping an eye on the progress and development of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Šeško, according to reports in Germany.

The 20-year-old is less than a year into his time with the Bundesliga club, having only joined officially on 1 July 2023 from partner side RB Salzburg on a five-year contract until 2028, for a reported transfer fee of around €24 million.

However, Šeško’s commendable goalscoring form and all-round game with the club could see Leipzig double their money on the striker by the time the summer transfer window arrives.

The Slovenian international forward has recorded a total of 10 goals across 28 appearances in all competitions so far this season, leaving his side 5th in the current Bundesliga rankings and challenging for a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with Real Madrid.

Despite the status of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez in the current Manchester City squad, alongside a number of other highly-talented names in a fluid attacking set-up, the Premier League champions have been linked with a tenuous interest in the Leipzig centre-forward.

That is according to the information of German newspaper BILD, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, who report that the form of Benjamin Šeško has made him a ‘transfer hit’ and has seen top clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester City, watch him closely.

Alongside La Liga giants Barcelona, the Premier League title-challenging duo are claimed to be ‘keeping an eye’ on the 20-year-old forward, who can be snatched away from Leipzig this summer through the activation of a €50 million release clause in the summer.

Following a 0-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last-16 earlier this week, RB Leipzig sporting director Rouven Schröder was asked about any concern regarding the forward’s release clause to which he bluntly responded, “That’s not going through my head tonight.”

Manchester City are unlikely to see either of their striking mainstays depart the club in the upcoming summer transfer window, however it is not surprising to see officials from within the Etihad Stadium preparing for any market possibility.

Txiki Begiristain and his colleagues’ ability to allow players to depart should they show an interest in an exit is a compliment to Manchester City’s depth of knowledge on the global game, and their extensive portfolio of players they could turn to if needed.

Real Madrid in particular are likely to be maintained as potential suitors for Erling Haaland over the coming seasons, regardless of their seemingly inevitable move for France international Kylian Mbappe this summer.