Manchester United have bid €75 million plus add-ons for their long-term target Benjamin Sesko, the 22-year-old Slovenian who plays for RB Leipzig in Germany’s Bundesliga.
United understand that the player wants to move to Old Trafford and hope that it goes through in the same manner as Bryan Mbeumo’s recent protracted transfer.
His club, Brentford, wanted others to bid for him and create an auction situation, but United knew all along that the forward desired a move to Old Trafford – even after he had spoken to other clubs.
This has not always been the case. United pursued Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong for much of the 2022 summer transfer window.
While his club were prepared to sell and the fees were not an issue, De Jong was happy at Barcelona and had little desire to leave – and he remained at Camp Nou. United signed Casemiro from Real Madrid late on in the transfer window instead.
The Red Devils face competition for Sesko from Newcastle United who are understood to have been trying to do a deal with his club to force both the player’s hand and Manchester United’s.
The Old Trafford club feel their valuation is right. Newcastle have money to spend, Champions League football to offer but there is an air of desperation given their lead striker Alexander Isak may depart for Liverpool.
The Magpies have also missed out on a succession of other targets in this transfer window – including Mbeumo and fellow summer arrival at Old Trafford, Matheus Cunha.
It may be that Newcastle, who won a first trophy since 1969 in March, bid so much that Manchester United won’t be willing to compete on price – or that Leipzig ask for so much that they price him out of a move this summer. Sesko has a contract at the German club until 2029.
That Manchester United can afford to bid for the player after two big outlays already this summer is down to their cash and PSR [profit and sustainability rules] position being improved by Marcus Rashford going on loan to Barcelona, with his full wages paid.
There were also sell-on fees for Anthony Elanga, Alvaro Carreras and Maxi Oyedele. The transfers of Cunha and Mbeumo will also be paid over multiple instalments with payments spread. United have also experienced a reduction in the wage bill since January with loan exits and wider club costs cut.
United have tried to sign Sesko three times before. He was the number one target as recently as last year, a player considered a top-quality long-term option.
Even then, United reckoned that he would cost €75m, but there were difficulties dealing with his agent who did not want Sesko to move to England when he was too young.
They believed that if he continued to play well in Germany then United would return with a far more lucrative payday down the line. With two English teams now bidding for the player, they may have got that right.
Results
5pm: Warsan Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Dhaw Al Reef, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Quadra Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mrouwah Al Gharbia, Sando Paiva, Abubakar Daud
6pm: Hatta Lake – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Yatroq, George Buckell, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adries de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Zakher Lake – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Alfareeq, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
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