Former England and Premier League manager Sam Allardyce has weighed in on Manchester United’s recent transfer decision, suggesting that the club erred by choosing Benjamin Sesko over Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer.
Allardyce argues that Mateta, with his size, experience, and proven scoring record in the Premier League, would have been the smarter gamble for United’s ambitions.
His comments have reignited debate over United’s recruitment strategy and the direction of their attack under Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig to lead their attack but the young striker has struggled to settle at the club and has only scored one goal so far this season.
Mateta has been a huge hit at Crystal Palace
On the other hand, Mateta has been consistent for Crystal Palace and has helped his club win the FA Cup and the Community Shield this year.
On the other hand, Sesko is looking completely out of touch in the United attack.
“Do you know who I’d have bought, more than anybody else? Mateta, absolutely. The centre-forward is absolutely brilliant and why they didn’t buy him, I don’t know, especially when the big strikers are coming back [into fashion],” said Allardyce on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“You look at the size of the lad that Newcastle signed [Nick Woltemade], you look at the size of the centre-forwards again. Mateta is winning in a team, and winning the FA Cup, and getting to Europe, and it took him more than a year to do it.
“There aren’t many centre-forwards as good as he is. Why did nobody go: ‘Bang!’, Manchester United? Because he’s got everything.”
Allardyce also raised questions about United’s boldness in the transfer market, while clubs are trending toward big, imposing strikers again, United’s decision to go younger, with a longer-term development plan, could be risky.
Of course, there are caveats. Mateta is tied up with contract negotiations at Palace, and it’s likely the club would refuse to sell a key striker.
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United’s board and recruitment team clearly opted for a different long-term plan with Sesko, one based more on potential upside than guaranteed output.
Allardyce’s critique may sound harsh, but it shows a key tension in United’s transfer thinking, whether to bet on youth and potential, or sign established performers who guarantee returns.
In his eyes, Mateta was the more logical choice, especially given the attacking demands United face. Whether that argument holds up will depend on how Sesko develops and whether United start getting the numbers and consistency needed up front.
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