Igor Matanović could become Benjamin Sesko's partner up front at Manchester United, a new report said. The SC Freiburg striker is interested in signing for Manchester United at the next available window, but the Bundesliga team will not sell the striker in the middle of the season.
The 23-year-old German-born striker represents Croatia. His family hails from Kotor Varoš, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He joined SC Freiburg in August 2025 and his contract details remain undisclosed.
Born in Hamburg, Matanovic came through the youth ranks at FC St. Pauli and made his professional debut in the 2. Bundesliga at just 17. In August 2021, he signed for Eintracht Frankfurt but remained with St. Pauli on loan for the following two seasons. He then spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Karlsruher SC, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists in 32 appearances for the Baden club.
In April 2022, he reportedly declared his intention to represent Croatia internationally at the senior level. Since then, he has played 15 games for the senior side, scoring twice.
Ahead of switching to Freiburg, Matanovic featured 25 times for Frankfurt across the Bundesliga, Europa League, and DFB-Pokal, scoring twice. He has managed 21 goals and six assists so far for Freiburg across competitions.
Meanwhile, TEAMtalk said in a report that the German club will demand £50 million for the striker if United insist on a January transfer. Sesko is having an injury-ravaged season, and Matheus Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee have not been ideal number nine choices so far this season.
London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal are also interested in Matanovic, but the Red Devils are ahead in the race, the report added.
