Benjamin Sesko is facing extreme scrutiny at Manchester United, almost unfairly so, but the club will be feeling a lot better with him than his alternative, who’s having a surprisingly disastrous season.
Man Utd’s list of striker targets this season began with Liam Delap, who chose Chelsea, also a deal that has aged well from United’s perspective because he hasn’t set the world alight.
Before settling on Benjamin Sesko, however, Delap wasn’t the only one of interest, with everyone from the likes of Jonathan Burkardt to Ollie Watkins and Jonathan David linked to the club.
One of the players who was ‘seriously considered’ by the club at the time has started this season with two goals in 12 games, as his team have fallen below the most pessimistic expectations.
Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina expresses disappointment
Photo by Emanuele Comincini/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Man Utd snubbing Moise Kean looks like a masterstroke
Coming into last summer, Moise Kean was firmly on the radar of many big clubs after a season that saw him score 19 goals in 32 league games.
The demons of his Everton past were exorcised, and Kean looked ready for a big move again, with United among the clubs keen on his signature.
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A price tag of around £45 million was mooted for a player who had come off a great scoring season, and had experience in the Premier League.
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On paper, it was an enticing gamble for the price mentioned, but United ultimately snubbed that chase to go all-in on Sesko instead.
Nearly three months into the season, that move has aged like a masterstroke, as Kean has found himself trapped in the malaise at Fiorentina.
The Florence club are winless after 13 league games as their six points have them 19th on the table, ahead of Verona only on goal difference.
Far from being the talisman, Kean has become another reason behind Fiorentina’s free-fall, missing his scoring boots, evidenced by his two goals in those games.
David de Gea is struggling as his teammate as well, with Kean not being able to recapture the form that made him a hot property last summer.
Man Utd’s Benjamin Sesko decision will come good
The striker is the hardest position to get right in the window, so it is worth having some patience and backing United’s decision to sign Sesko.
This is what Benjamin Sesko is really capable of!
Do you think Benjamin Sesko can hit this kind of form at Manchester United?
Anyone can see that the Slovenian needs time and experience, not just in the Premier League, but in his career in general, because he’s still young and developing.
That line of thinking is much better and coherent than signing the flavour of the summer window with one good season in his tank.
The ultimate return on investment on Sesko is much higher than it would have been on someone like Kean, and that’s why he’s worth persisting with.
On current evidence, Sesko has already cleared two players who were contenders to be United’s No. 9 this season.