Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has revealed his concerns about the Red Devils’ move for Benjamin Sesko, fearing the Slovenian could be another expensive flop
14:55, 06 Aug 2025Updated 15:10, 06 Aug 2025
Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United are pursuing Benjamin Sesko(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has stated his fears about Benjamin Sesko.
The Red Devils are reportedly favourites to land the RB Leipzig striker in a deal worth upwards of £70million. United are going head-to-head with Newcastle for the 22-year-old’s signature, with the Magpies already launching two bids for the Slovenia international.
However, Sesko reportedly favours a move to Old Trafford, leaving the club in the prime position to land a new No.9 after Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combined for just seven Premier League goals last season.
But United have been warned against making the move for Sesko. Despite playing two seasons in the Bundesliga and Champions League for RB Leipzig – scoring 39 goals, and playing in Euro 2024, Sesko’s experience has been questioned.
Speaking to Poker Strategy, Meulensteen said: “Manchester United’s bid for Benjamin Sesko is basically exactly what they did with Rasmus Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League Summer Series match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Soldier Field on July 30, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Hojlund is determined to fight for his place at United(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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“If he scores in the first three or four games and hits the ground running then he could be the answer for the club, but there’s a chance that won’t happen.
“If you look at Hojlund, he joined Atalanta and performed well alongside the rest of the team and then joined United. The same can be said for Sesko – the Bundesliga is a very different league to the Premier League, so he’ll need to adapt.
“Has Sesko got potential? 100%, but he’s still young and developing and he isn’t the finished article.”
Meulensteen added that he would have made the case to his former side for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins instead of Sesko, despite the England international being seven years his senior.
Ollie Watkins points
Ollie Watkins has been linked with a move to Manchester United(Image: PA)
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He continued: “I look at someone like Ollie Watkins who may be available. He’s a hard-working player with similar features to Sesko, except that he already has Premier League experience which is priceless. I think Sesko would probably cost more than Watkins too.
“Why doesn’t the club bring in Watkins and allow the coaches to work closely with Hojlund to allow him to develop? It’s a waste of an investment otherwise – they paid close to £80m for him and they’re in danger of selling him for less than half of that unless he develops.”
Hojlund is likely to leave Old Trafford if Sesko, or another No.9, is signed this summer. The 22-year-old has scored 26 goals in 95 games for United since the club took a huge £72m gamble on the Denmark international after scoring 10 goals in one full season at Atalanta in Serie A.