Manchester United are set to complete signing number three of the summer as Benjamin Sesko prepares to fly to Manchester and complete his transfer.
After a whirlwind week, Manchester United have now agreed the deal which will see Benjamin Sesko playing at Old Trafford for the upcoming campaign.
United and RB Leipzig agreed on a £66.3m up front fee for Sesko, with a further £7.3m in add-ons to be paid depending on the success of the Slovenian.
Sesko picked United over Newcastle this week, and from then on the deal was a formality, with everything now arranged.
In a bid to get the player into the squad as quick as possible, United are expecting Sesko to fly into Manchester on Thursday. As a result, it looks increasingly likely that Sesko could be presented to Old Trafford on Saturday before the pre-season clash with Fiorentina.
So with the move set to be confirmed, now we can consider the main winners and losers involved in Sesko joining United.
Winners
First the winners.
Patrick Dorgu: One big winner from the arrival of Sesko will certainly be Patrick Dorgu, who is expected to have a breakout season for United. After taking time to settle in after his January transfer, pre-season has shown Dorgu has improved massively for United.
So with an aerial threat number nine to aim for with his crosses, Dorgu could begin racking up the assists for United. Last season, Dorgu was consistently sending these balls into the box only for no attackers to be attacking the ball.
This should change with the addition of a proper striker, and the pair will be able to grow together.
Amad: In a similar manner to Dorgu, Amad would also be a big winner should the deal to sign Sesko be completed. Assuming Amad is the starting right wing-back for United, Sesko could be in for a treat with the sheer amount of creativity that the Ivorian could give him.
Amad will be able to send balls into the box for Sesko to pounce on, in a manner that Rasmus Hojlund has not done in the past few seasons and this would be a massive boost for the assist numbers of the 23-year-old.
Sesko’s goal conversion rate is pretty good and this should give his teammates the desire to create chances for him, when previously there would have been doubt whether anyone would be in the box for the cross, so Amad could benefit massively.
Ruben Amorim: Without a doubt, one of the happiest men in Manchester United after this deal goes through will be the head coach, Ruben Amorim. Having highlighted United’s poor finishing throughout the 2024/25 season, Amorim wanted goals from his new number nine and Sesko offers the promise of plenty.
Amorim more importantly wants intensity and physicality, which Sesko also has, being big, strong and very quick. Sesko ticks so many of Amorim’s boxes for a striker, we’d be shocked if he doesn’t end the season as the top scorer for United.
Now, Amorim has a striker who can win duels, headers and also score with a lethal strike, it will be transformational this season.
Chido Obi: One surprising winner from United signing Sesko will be Chido Obi, with the 17-year-old set to finally have a striker to learn from and back-up without any pressure.
Some might worry that it blocks his pathway, however, the cream always rises to the top and Sesko will help Obi reach his top level over the next three or four years.
Obi can learn plenty from how Sesko uses his size to his advantage and also in terms of his aerial ability. However, on the other hand, Obi may now have to be considered for a loan exit in order to develop as he needs to, which is also a winning outcome for the teenager.
Bruno Fernandes: For years, Bruno Fernandes has almost been a one man team, with his assist numbers massively underperforming the chances he creates due to poor finishing.
Well Sesko’s numbers suggest that he is an excellent finisher, as he overperforms his expected goals, and with the opportunities he will get through Fernandes and also Cunha and Mbeumo, goals could truly flow.
Fernandes could end up breaking assist records this season if all goes to plan, and Sesko will be at the centre of this if it happens.
Losers
And the losers.
Rasmus Hojlund: Despite Rasmus Hojlund’s desire to remain at United this summer, the Dane will struggle for minutes with Sesko due to arrive as the first choice striker. There is only one game a week this season, and so there simply won’t be enough names to go around.
United will now be looking for a Hojlund solution with clubs keen on the Dane, however, now it is abundantly clear that he isn’t a starter and the club could be keen to push him toward the exit.
Hojlund wants to stay and fight for his place, however, it is likely too late and he should’ve fought for his spot during his two full seasons at the club.
Newcastle United: The biggest loser of this deal and also the entire summer is Newcastle United, with the North East based side seeing yet another top target reject them in favour of a move elsewhere.
This is the third time it has happened for United this summer, having also beaten Newcastle to Mbeumo and Cunha transfers.
Newcastle will now have to hope they can convince Aston Villa to sell Ollie Watkins otherwise the remaining options elsewhere are far from exciting.
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