Manchester United are advancing with a potential move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Aston Villa remain adamant Ollie Watkins is not for sale and United have received encouragement to pursue Sesko instead. Sesko, 22, is actually younger than United's current number nine, Rasmus Hojlund, and the Slovenia international has scored a modest 27 goals in 64 Bundesliga games. The MEN reported two weeks ago that United were likely to consider Sesko amid the shortage of attainable strikers who fit their profile. Newcastle United are also interested in Sesko amid uncertainty over the future of Alexander Isak, who has skipped their pre-season tour. Liverpool are weighing up a move for Isak and are considering whether to leave the number 14 vacant for the Swede before they switch kits from Nike to Adidas later this week. The club's new recruits have not been allocated squad numbers yet. Newcastle's move for goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley was hijacked by Manchester City last week when they exercised a buy-back clause. Sesko has played in the Champions League the past three seasons with Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg and seemed intent on joining a club in the competition for the upcoming season. Arsenal were expected to move for Sesko but completed the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting last week. Sesko's agent, Elvis Basanovic, met United football director John Murtough three years ago but the Slovenia international rejected the club in favour of signing for Leipzig. Basanovic has maintained contact with the United hierarchy and made multiple visits to the club's Carrington training complex and Old Trafford . United have turned to Sesko after their prime target, Liam Delap, chose to join Chelsea . United enquired about Gyokeres but he preferred a move to Arsenal.