Manchester United are reportedly closing in on the signing of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, but one former Red Devil has hinted the club should go for a different profile of player
The potential signing of Benjamin Sesko could pose a familiar problem for Manchester United this summer.
Former Red Devil Louis Saha has highlighted the risks associated with relying on young players in key positions. Negotiations to bring RB Leipzig striker Sesko to United have picked up pace since Viktor Gyokeres’ move to Arsenal was confirmed.
However, some supporters might be apprehensive about another relatively inexperienced player leading the club’s attack. In recent years, the Red Devils have seen a string of emerging talents spearhead their forward line. Rasmus Hojlund, who turned 22 in February, and Joshua Zirkzee, who celebrated his 24th birthday in May, are among the most recent examples.
Sesko, 22, has supposedly leapfrogged the more experienced Ollie Watkins in United’s summer transfer wish list. Sesko is seemingly open to a move despite interest from Newcastle, who may need to replace Alexander Isak, and it could spell trouble for the likes of Zirkzee and Hojlund, with the latter’s future at Old Trafford not assured under Ruben Amorim.
This situation underscores the immense pressure that comes with being United’s striker. And Champions League-winner Saha emphasised how challenging this can be for young players.
“Having the striker gives you confidence because whenever you’re not playing well, he’s able to actually score his own goals,” he told Betway (via The Mirror). “He’s able to score the goals that are important and can change the nature of the games.
“It is very important that the manager finds this with the striker, and that also gives the right platform for Hojlund or Zirkzee to perform as well, because there is not so much pressure only on their shoulders.”
The same concerns apply to Sesko, who could face similar challenges if his move to England doesn’t go as planned. The Slovenian had a standout season in Germany, scoring 21 goals across all competitions for Leipzig, yet some United supporters believe a more seasoned player like Watkins from Aston Villa might be a better fit.
“When you look at Europe, it’s not easy to find a No. 9 that is very consistent with his own ability to create his own chances,” added Saha. “We’ve seen that Victor Osimhen has signed for Galatasaray, Benjamin Sesko was maybe signing for Arsenal, or now maybe United. Those targets are extremely interesting.
“You need those goals, you need that charisma at the very top of the field because it brings the confidence to the other players. I think those profiles are extremely important.”
When asked if United have lacked character and confidence in their attack in recent years, Saha responded: “I call it players with the balance of arrogance and humility. We had [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. I always felt that this guy was the perfect fit, because he had this charisma, arrogance, people would call it, but it’s not arrogance, it’s just confidence and hard work.
“The guy worked really hard and helped a lot of the players around him, so this is the type of character we needed. When you give that responsibility to 22-year-old and then 20-year-old strikers, they have to prove a lot of things. It’s extremely hard.
“I thought that it was a mistake to put that on the shoulder of Hojlund or Zirkzee and say, ‘You are the guys, you are the No. 9 and you should go and score 30 goals to get us in the Champions League and challenge for the title.'”
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes was United’s top scorer last season on 19 goals in all competitions, while Hojlund led the club’s account with 16 the previous campaign. This marked the first time in almost a decade that United have failed to see a player score at least 20 goals in back-to-back campaigns.
“I think it was a mistake [to entrust Hojlund and Zirkzee], and it needs to be addressed because this is how we build the confidence of youngsters,” added Saha. “You can’t progress because you have had five or 10 good games. It’s not enough. You need a season or two, and then a real understanding of how things can change in a click. So all those things have been asked of youngsters, and I think it wasn’t fair.”
There’s no certainty that even more experienced players won’t encounter difficulties. However, one would hope a proven track record with other top teams or leagues might offer a better assurance of success on the pitch.
In this regard, United could be making a misstep if they assign their lead striker role to another young talent with limited top-tier experience. It’s believed Leipzig are asking for at least £70million for Sesko’s signature, a risk akin to the Hojlund investment, which has yet to yield significant returns.
2025-07-31 11:09:48
