Ruben Amorim was overruled by Ineos several times in the summer transfer window but the Manchester United head coach is being proven right about one target.
Since the takeover at Manchester United, recruitment has improved under Ineos, with a proper footballing structure now set up to make transfer decisions.
For example, Ruben Amorim wanted Emiliano Martinez as his goalkeeper signing, but Ineos stuck with their data-driven approach and signed Senne Lammens.
This is what Benjamin Sesko is really capable of!
That decision is ageing brilliantly and Lammens looks like a bargain signing for the Red Devils.
However, when it came to signing a striker, perhaps Ineos should have taken Ruben Amorim’s preference more seriously.
Ruben Amorim wanted to sign Ollie Watkins at Man United
United pushed Rasmus Hojlund to the exit and struck a £66m deal for Benjamin Sesko to refresh their striker options this summer.
Christopher Vivell was key to signing Sesko, with the recruitment chief keen on the deal having worked with the Slovenian in the Red Bull group.
HOW many goals do you think Benjamin Sesko will score this season for United?
However, Amorim preferred Ollie Watkins as he wanted Premier League experience in his front line – similar to his reasoning behind signing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Watkins was open to joining United, but Aston Villa took a firm stance that he wasn’t for sale. In the end, Ineos went all-in on Sesko.
Ollie Watkins stars for Aston Villa with ‘amazing’ mentality
Following a slow start to the season, Ollie Watkins is now finding form up front for Villa.
Villa made it 11 wins in a row this weekend with Watkins scoring twice against Chelsea in a 2-1 victory away from home.
It was Watkins’ fifth Premier League goal of the season, while Sesko has only scored twice in 2025/26.
After the full-time whistle, Villa boss Unai Emery was full of praise for Watkins, and particularly his mentality.
He told Sky Sports: “Ollie Watkins’ mentality was amazing. His commitment, amazing”.
Sesko has also shown an elite mentality at United this season, but there may be some regret around Old Trafford at not pushing harder to sign Watkins in the summer.
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