Following weeks of speculation and monotonous daily updates, Manchester United jumped in with both feet on Tuesday morning (August 5) and submitted an official offer for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
According to David Ornstein via The Athletic, United proposed a package of €75 million plus €10m in achievable add-ons, with the Bundesliga outfit yet to respond.
Interestingly, Newcastle continued their pursuit and unleashed an improved assault on Monday. Eddie Howe’s side bettered their initial attempt of €75 million plus €5m with a second bid of €80m plus additional add-ons.
The Magpies hold a long-standing interest in the Slovenian talent, earmarking the 22-year-old as a replacement for their wantaway talisman, Alexander Isak. In Manchester, Ineos officials view him as an ideal character to meet their transfer criteria.
Undeniably, the Leipzig man certainly has potential, and that’s something we’ve explored in detail for weeks. However, potential is one thing for a young player, and the expectations will be amplified immensely for an incoming signing of that fee for the 20-time English champions.
Given everything we know, what can the Old Trafford faithful anticipate from their potential new hitman?
Benjamin Sesko | Ready to lead the Manchester United line, or an unmissable prospect for years to come?
The above remains a relevant question, and both could be argued to be accurate today. Sesko is a domineering figure with a portfolio of outstanding finishes for club and country.
However, having spent his young career in Austria before moving into the territory of the mighty Bayern Munich, there is an apprehension about the expectations that would be placed on his relatively inexperienced shoulders.
Although some are unaware of his weekly exploits for Die Roten Bullen, it is not an absurd line of thought to question why the mighty Bavarians do not view this prodigy as a long-term replacement for Harry Kane.
First and foremost, there must be a plethora of reasons outside of a lack of alternatives that inspired United to enter this race. As we are all aware, Ineos’ best-in-class team is determined to right the wrongs of the club’s previous footballing hierarchy.
| Benjamin Sesko vs Bundesliga 2024-25 | Per 90 minutes | Percentile |
| Percentage of aerials won | 58.8% | 94 |
| Successful take-ons | 1.47 | 84 |
| Touches (middle third) | 17.89 | 77 |
| Shots on target % | 43.9% | 73 |
| Goals | 0.49 | 69 |
Figures available at fbref.com
The above represents a good showing from a promising player who supplied 13 goals and five assists from 33 appearances in Germany’s top tier.
His height and dominance in aerial duels would offer an alternative dimension for Ruben Amorim, with his ability to utilise pace and line-busting runs a tantalising prospect when considering the duo of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in attack.
However, when considering the nature of this multi-million pound offer, it’s fair to look at the pros and cons of every potential deal, and there is much to Sesko’s game that raises more than a hint of an eyebrow.
| Benjamin Sesko vs Bundesliga 2024-25 | Per 90 minutes | Percentile |
| Shots blocked | 0.15 | 79 |
| Miscontrols | 2.50 | 68 |
| Goals/Shots | 0.17 | 67 |
| Carries | 16.79 | 18 |
| Touches in the final third | 13.50 | 16 |
| Shot-creating actions | 1.93 | 16 |
| Touches in the opposition penalty area | 3.44 | 14 |
Figures available at fbref.com
Evidently, €85m will get you a talented young player, but, like any footballer, there is no guarantee of improvement, and several gaps in his attacking arsenal have been exposed in a less competitive division.
As stated in a previous exploration piece, concerns regarding the inability of several players to transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League are very relevant, with the memories of Shinji Kagawa and Henrikh Mkhitaryan intensified by the recent acquisition of Jadon Sancho.
Yes, the trio are not strikers, and they were not supported by the domestically-proven duo of Cunha and Mbeumo, but that in itself does not offer certainty.
Then, without the intention of sounding repetitive, the situation regarding Rasmus Hojlund still exists with the two years of experience gained against English defenders. Regardless of how frustrating 2024-25 was, his debut campaign surely offered enough promise towards what is possible.
Should a deal for Sesko surface, you would hope that United officials intend to keep both strikers to allow for multiple options in a crucial position. That is without factoring in Chido Obi and his required development, or the 9.5 figure of Joshua Zirkzee.
Truthfully, I have always believed that the Reds should pursue the game’s most promising talent, and I love the idea of adding Sesko to the list.
However, my concerns stem from the inevitable media spotlight that will be placed on his young shoulders, and the expectations of a disgruntled fanbase who, by and large, are unaware of the type of player being pursued.
Furthermore, while the prospect of a trio of Mbeumo, Cunha, and Sesko is superb on paper, particularly after the most limp of attacking displays throughout the previous campaign, I fear that Ineos may be replicating the mistake made two years ago.
When everything is said and done, I will supply my unequivocal support for any Manchester United signing, regardless of apprehension, but I will not shy away from airing relevant concerns.
YouTube has provided ample information for a juvenile audience, and recent history retains the scars of many knee-jerk reactions.
Should Christopher Vivell get his man, I urge everybody to give him the required time to come to terms with the expectations of the English game, particularly at the Theatre of Dreams.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by mrogowski_photography via depositphotos.com
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