Paul Scholes says Man Utd should sign £60m star instead of Benjamin Sesko | Football
Paul Scholes has named two strikers who would be better fits for Manchester United than incoming £74m signing Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko is expected to be unveiled as a new Old Trafford signing in the coming days after United agreed a big-money deal with RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old Slovenia international has scored 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig.
Newcastle United were battling Manchester United for Sesko’s signature, while Arsenal were interested in a deal before they signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting.
Old Trafford legend Scholes has doubts about United’s deal, however, and fears Sesko could emulate Rasmus Hojlund by flopping in the Premier League.
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Scholes also named Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen as two strikers with better profiles than Sesko.
Watkins has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer and is said to be interested in joining Manchester United despite their embarrassing 2024-25 campaign.
The England international has scored 50 Premier League goals over the past three seasons and was the subject of a transfer bid from Arsenal in January.
Osimhen, meanwhile, completed a permanent £65m move to Galatasaray last month after Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all passed up on the chance to sign the Nigerian from Napoli.
‘From Sesko’s point of view, he would have more chance to develop at Newcastle than Man United and he needs that,’ Scholes said on The Overlap.
‘To be a centre-forward for Man United, as we’ve found with Hojlund, you need to be ready. It has to be now.
‘Hojlund just isn’t quite good enough for that, as we’ve seen, but he’s not had a chance to develop.
‘Going to Newcastle for two or three years might have been the best thing for Sesko. But you can’t turn down Man United for Newcastle, you just can’t.
‘Manchester United finished 15th last year and Newcastle qualified for the Champions League. But which club is realistically going to have success first? Are Man United going to win the league again before Newcastle ever do? Of course they are.
‘That is why Sesko wants to go there but from United’s point of view, is it the best bit of business?
‘I still think you’re in the same boat as having Hojlund. United don’t need another project, they had that with Hojlund.
‘What they need is a centre forward ready to go. That’s not out there. Osimhen is probably the only one who was out there.
‘Watkins is a brilliant striker who works his nuts off, I don’t think he’s the best finisher, but I think he would be a better option now with Sesko and Hojlund behind him.
‘I think those two are second or third strikers behind a main striker but maybe that isn’t out there right now.
Expert analysis, Benjamin Sesko
It was quite a tough season for Leipzig, which forced them to change coach after a disappointing Champions League campaign. They’ve been struggling, which reflects on his output, but he was still 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 Kai Havertz, he’s not at that level. In particular, his passing will need to get a lot better.
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
‘Osimhen might have been the one, he’s ready-made, but there’s nothing else now. Even Gyokeres might be a bit of a project, you’re not quite sure what you’re getting with him.’
Newcastle expressed interest in signing Sesko after Alexander Isak informed club bosses that he was seen to explore his options this summer.
Like Scholes, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes St James’ Park would be a better place for Sesko to develop, but understands why he has seemingly chosen to join the Red Devils.
‘The name of Manchester United – no matter where they finish in the Premier League – is so important,’ he said.
‘We’re talking about one of the biggest football clubs in the world, it’s an institution.
‘Newcastle will never be Man United but from Sesko’s point of view, look at the track record of young players at United and the track record of Eddie Howe and what he’s done with young players.
‘Eddie Howe improves players and if I was Sesko that would definitely be at the back of my mind.’
If Sesko completes his move to Manchester United, he will become Ruben Amorim’s third summer signing following Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
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Paul Scholes says Man Utd should sign £60m star instead of Benjamin Sesko | Football
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