Ruben Amorim prefers Ollie Watkins – but Man Utd make Benjamin Sesko No.1 target | Football

Ruben Amorim would rather sign Ollie Watkins than Benjamin Sesko despite Manchester United making the latter their No.1 transfer target.

The Red Devils are keen to recruit a new striker ahead of the new Premier League season and have been strongly linked to both players this summer.

United’s hierarchy have now decided to prioritise a move for RB Leipzig forward Sesko and are hoping to strike a deal for £60-70m plus add-ons.

It’s somewhat of a surprising call, given United head coach Amorim would actually prefer to sign Watkins from Aston Villa, talkSPORT have reported.

Why are Man Utd focusing on Sesko?

Amorim has made it clear he’d like to bring in players with Premier League experience, such as new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

Watkins certainly fits that description, having proven himself as a Premier League goalscorer, unlike Sesko, who has never played in England before.

But United have decided to focus on Sesko instead because they feel Watkins’ price tag is too high for a player who turns 30 in December.

Villa are believed to want £60m for Watkins – but United are only willing to pay up to £45m for the 29-year-old Englishman.

That has seen the Red Devils make Sesko their No.1 target with United’s director of recruitment Christopher Vivell thought to be driving the deal having worked with RB Leipzig and the player’s old club Red Bull Salzburg.

Expert analysis: Benjamin Sesko

It was quite a tough season for Leipzig last term, which forced them to change coach after a disappointing Champions League campaign. They were struggling, which reflected on Sesko’s output, but he’s still been one of their best and most consistent players.

Sesko’s strengths are certainly his physicality and speed – he’s great at making dangerous runs in behind defences, but he’s also a very clinical and instinctive finisher, especially when the ball drops to him in the area. His work rate is good and he’s a willing runner off the ball as well.

His hold-up play is quite strong, but I think his link-up play is a side of his game that he can still improve. It’s not that he’s bad at that side of the game, but compared to someone like Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, he’s not at that level.

But during his young career, he’s shown he can take those steps forward. His mentality is definitely a strength – he’s a player who wants to learn and wants to improve so in that sense he will be a quick learner.

Rune Gjerulff, German football expert and editor of Bulinews

Ferdinand ‘worried’ over Sesko deal

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has been left ‘worried’ over United’s decision to prioritise Sesko over Watkins.

Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, he said: ‘If you get Watkins, you’ve got guaranteed 15-20 goals really and then you’ve got that with Cunha and you’ve got that with Mbeumo.

‘Not completely guaranteed, but you’ve got double figures all the way up front.

‘Bear in mind, we were 16th in terms of goals scored last season and these lot are getting you minimum 40 goals between them.’

Ferdinand is not writing off Sesko coming in and succeeding at United but believes the move would be riskier than a deal for Villa striker Watkins.

Pointing to Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles since arriving in English football, Ferdinand added: ‘The only difference is that Rasmus came in and had inexperience around him in terms of [Alejandro] Garnacho one side and Amad [Diallo] the other, for instance, most of the time.

‘If Sesko comes in, he’s got two players that have played Premier League, scored goals in the Premier League and backed up by Bruno [Fernandes] so I think it’s a different dynamic that he comes into.

‘But the uncertainty worries me a little bit. Can he adapt to this league?’

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