Manchester United have earmarked their new number nine. On August 9, the Red Devils signed up Benjamin Sesko from **RB Leipzig**for a fee of £66.3 million that rises to £73.7 million with add-ons.
The Slovenian's signature was for a five year deal, and aged 22, he seems to be an investment for the long term. These types of transfers have burned the club before, but will they get it right this time?
Sesko’s sensationalised rise
Sesko has spent his career as a part of the Red Bull setup and stood out as one of their best talents.
He has dedicated two years of his career apiece to three clubs in their multi-club structure. The striker scored 21 times in his final campaign of second division Austrian football for Liefering, and then registered 16 more in the top tier for **Red Bull Salzburg**in his final season with the top tier club.
Then came the leap to the Bundesliga with Leipzig. In this stint, he saw his haul decrease from the first to the second season, notching one less goal in the German topflight despite making two more appearances. However, 13 strikes were enough to end up as the top scorer for a team that struggled.
For his nation, he first played on the day that followed his 18th birthday, becoming the youngest debutant for Slovenia. He became their youngest scorer in a World Cup qualifier with **Malta**later in 2021, and has since recorded fifteen more goals for the country across a total of 41 appearances.
The topline numbers are not outstanding, but he has a lot of time to go in his career. The fascination for this player revolves around what he could be and the raw tools that he possesses in his locker.
Sesko’s star potential
There are reservations to hold about a player who has cost so much. His sporting education has been limited to playing for teams that put him in particular situations to be a threat on the transition in big space. As for the numbers, attackers in Austria and Germany often experience inflation of their output.
However, he has raw assets that are worth mentioning. Sesko stands at 6'5", is fast over the ground with a large stride, and knows how to move on the counter. He has an infamous leap, and though it remains to be seen if he has the bite for aerial duels, he should thrive on any uncontested headers.
His agility applies not only to runs but also to how trigger happy he can be when he lines up shots. Silly shooting locations might be less permissible in England, especially when he is around attackers like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. However, there is no doubt he has the confidence to test the goalkeeper with sharp efforts in a way that seems to have eluded Rasmus Hojlund as of late.
The refinement in his craft with 1v1s is missing, as seen with the miss for **Slovenia**against **Portugal**in the Round of 16 of EURO 2024, or the many botched transitions for the Red Bulls against Real Madrid in the Champions League last year. His hold-up play under pressure can also improve.
But this is a big prospect in every sense of the word, and a footballer whose name has been in the headlines almost since he started as a professional. Now he is at one of the biggest institutions in the sporting world. With all eyes on him, he must show he has the mentality to thrive under the spotlight.
How does Sesko affect the squad construction?
The demand for goals in the team needs no explanation. The Red Devils were the sixth worst team in the Premier League last term, and a tally of 44 goals in 38 outings was the fifth worst in the division.
Cunha and Mbeumo bagged 35 between them last season for **Wolves**and Brentford, so they should help offer directness, individual quality, and the ability to disorganise defences. But at least in spurts, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho could also give these traits from the wings.
What **Manchester United**want is someone who has the character and quality to lead their frontline.
That responsibility was too much to bear for Hojlund. The Dane was a gamble for a comparable fee of an initial £64 million, with up to £8million in add-ons two years ago: he was the youngest player to score in six straight Premier League fixtures in his first season, but only netted four times last term.
Hojlund is only three months older than Sesko, and Joshua Zirkzee is only two years older than his fellow forwards. The Red Devils paid £36.5 million for his services last summer after he starred for a season at Bologna. He endured his own trials and tribulations, scoring just three times in the league.
If the club had chosen to commit to buying Ollie Watkins, who turns 30 at the end of the year, for a lower fee, then they would have been in a situation with a more even age distribution in their attack.
Instead, Hojlund might be the odd one out. Zirkzee has playmaking and link-up skills that Ruben Amorim has tried to deploy in one of the ten roles off the central forward. Sesko is the new shiny toy, while Amad Diallo, Cunha, and Mbeumo will be ahead in the depth chart for the front three.
There is pressure for the Slovenian to start strong, especially if his higher fee means there is no newcomer to strengthen the spine in the middle of the park. Time will tell if it is the right choice.