Former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur centre forward, Peter Crouch, names Benjamin Šeško as “the one” who excites him the most, ahead of the new Premier League season.
Benjamin Šeško has joined Manchester United from RB Leipzig for approximately £73.7 million, with additional add-ons if he or the team impresses during his time at Old Trafford, a large fee for such a young player.
The 22-year-old scored just 13 goals last season, a statistic many rival fans are using against him, but he mostly played in a front two with Lois Openda, so Šeško wasn’t always the main man through the middle.
However, on Rúben Amorim’s side, the 6’5 centre forward will be the first-choice centre forward when the Portuguese manager feels he is fully up to speed, as Rasmus Højlund looks set to leave the club, with AC Milan most interested.
Joshua Zirkzee will also be fighting to start as the central striker, but he hasn’t played for United since the Europa League final after picking up another injury before the first pre-season fixture against Leeds United.
Hojlund played the majority of pre-season as the No.9, although new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo both played their while in the USA. Mason Mount also played as a false nine during David de Gea’s farewell last weekend.
Crouch praises Šeško ahead of new season
Speaking to The Mirror before the Premier League begins this weekend, former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker Peter Crouch spoke on who could be the Golden Boot winner at the end of the season, mentioning Šeško as an exciting player.
“The favourites for the Golden Boot will be Alexander Isak,” said Crouch. “If he gets his situation sorted out, Erling Haaland and Mo Salah, the same old faces.
“But out of the new faces, Šeško is the one that I like watching. I’m excited by him. There’s still the fact that he hasn’t played in the Premier League, and that is something that you have to look at.”
“Can he settle straight away? But he’s the player that excites me the most out of the new signings.”
Šeško could make his United debut against Arsenal this weekend, but could be forced to start on the bench if Amorim doesn’t believe he is ready to play all 90 minutes. The result against the Gunners could be crucial for how United’s season plays out after the dismal campaign last year.
Mount could start as the striker against Arsenal
With Højlund looking set for a move away, the starting striker on Sunday afternoon could be several different players, including Šeško, but Amorim may decide to stick with what the front three from the Fiorentina game.
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While there was rotation throughout the game, Mount played the majority of the match as a false nine, with Mbeumo to his right and Cunha on the left-hand side. Bruno Fernandes dropped back into midfield alongside Casemiro.
Although Amorim has confirmed that Šeško is physically fit to start against Arsenal, he may still opt to play Mount from the first minute to allow the new striker signing to gradually acclimatise to English football.
Mount isn’t a natural striker, but he was “unbelievable” against the Italian side, and Amorim’s love for the attacking midfielder is well known. He may start the game as the striker, with Šeško appearing off the bench.
The main question for Amorim concerns who will start in goal. André Onana has returned to team training this week, but Altay Bayındır has been the starting shot-stopper throughout pre-season.
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