Manchester United have had a dismal start to the 2026/27 season, and a key reason for their struggles has been their lack of firepower upfront.
The Red Devils went into the campaign with Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee as their only out-and-out strikers. The club placed a lot of pressure on the duo's shoulders as they decided against signing a backup for them.
Sesko missed the final few matches of the 2025/26 campaign, and then the entirety of pre-season, with a shin injury.
He was fit enough to play United's opening match of the Premier League campaign against Hull City, and then went on to play in their next five matches against Ipswich Town, Everton, FC Sabah, Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, he has not played any football since that match against Brighton, which occurred on September 16, after picking up another issue with his shin.
He spoke out about his injury after being forced to miss Slovenia's international matches in September and October. He wrote on Instagram:
"I am very sorry that I will have to miss the national team's upcoming matches. I have always played for Slovenia - and always will - with heart and pride.
"Right now, the most important thing is to focus fully on my recovery. I am already working on getting back on the pitch as soon as possible to help both the national team and my club once again.
"I believe in our guys, and I am certain that this time, too, they will display the team spirit that has always defined us. I can't wait to wear the national team jersey again; until then, I will be Slovenia's biggest supporter. Go Slovenia."
Benjamin Sesko Suffers Injury Setback
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The Slovenia international has undergone multiple tests in an attempt to get to the bottom of the problem, with manager Michael Carrick being asking on numerous occasions when he will be fit to return.
It will be a while until he returns to the pitch, though. GiveMeSport understands that United have been working with a therapist in a bid to get their striker back to full fitness, but they have now been told Sesko will remain unavailable until the new year.
Carrick gave an update on Sesko's fitness a few weeks ago. He said: "The original [injury last season] was the shin. It's not the exact [same] issue, it's a similar area, but it's not the exact same thing again, and we're kind of working through it, seeing how long the issue will be. Hoping it'll be soon, obviously, but right now it's not quite clear."
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Best Free Agent Strikers Man Utd Can Sign Right Now
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United will likely sign a striker in January, but there are some big names available on a free transfer right now should they feel the need to address the issue immediately.
Odion Ighalo, who was on loan at Manchester United from 2020-2021, is currently a free agent after leaving Al Wehda FC. A boyhood United fan, he would no doubt relish a return to the club.
Luuk De Jong has scored close to 300 goals in his career. The Dutchman, who has played 39 times for his country, has featured for the likes of Newcastle United, PSV, Sevilla and Barcelona. Now 36, he has been without a club since leaving Porto in the summer.
Mauro Icardi has scored goals wherever he has gone, hitting the back of the net plenty of times for Sampdoria, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Galatarasay. Now 33, he is currently a free agent after leaving the Turkish giants. He scored a respectable 16 goals in the 25/26 campaign.
Could United make a sensational move to bring back Anthony Martial? It's doubtful, but they could, with the Frenchman looking for a new club after leaving Mexican side, C.F. Monterrey. The 30-year-old scored 90 times in 317 games for the Red Devils.
2022 Ballon d'Or winner and one of the greatest strikers ever, Karim Benzema, is also a free agent after leaving Al-Hilal. At 38 years old, he is well past his best, but he still knows where the back of the net is after scoring plenty of goals in Saudi Arabia over the past few years.