Gone are the days where Manchester United used to have four top level strikers on the books, with a famous quartet fuelling the Treble in 1999.
Changing tactics and a preference to play just one centre-forward at a time has reduced the number of strikers in squads, yet whichever way you look at it, Manchester United are light.
The optimum number nowadays are probably two lead striking options and a top youth developmental prospect. Having a wide player who can fill in like Marcus Rashford, is just an added bonus.
United only have Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial. Except that Martial is never available, and Hojlund, just 21, has missed time recently too.
Martial’s contract will expire in June, and Manchester United will sign another striker this summer. The question is who.
Benjamin Sesko will be in the mix
Many would like to see an experienced striker come in, to lend a hand to Rasmus Hojlund and take some pressure off. See Ivan Toney.
The other school of thought is to sign another young up and coming forward, who would be the 1B to Hojlund’s 1A.
That’s where Benjamin Sesko comes in. Manchester United tried to sign Sesko in 2022, but instead he was fast-tracked through the Red Bull teams, with Salzburg selling to Leipzig at a knockdown price, with United told to pay more than double. Sensibly they didn’t bite.
This summer, the chance to sign Sesko could come around again. Teamtalk and 90Min have both reported this season that the forward remains of interest to Manchester United, and that the striker is open to a move.
Sesko, still only 20, has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, and also netted five in nine games during Euro 2024 qualifying.
At the Euros, Slovenia’s opening game will be against Rasmus Hojlund’s Denmark. It might be sensible for Manchester United to get in there early, and make a move before his price tag shoots up.
Zlatko Zahovic convinced over Benjamin Sesko
Slovenia legend Zlatko Zahovic played at Euro 2000 and he has huge faith that Sesko can become an absolute top star.
Speaking via Mais Futebol, he said: “Sesko, from Leipzig, is outstanding! He is a boy who has a lot of quality and who will be a big name in European football. I have no doubt about that.
“Another year or two and he will be one of the great strikers in Europe.”
Manchester United gambled with Hojlund that they were getting in early, paying a fee which would eventually look cheap.
The same leap of faith will be required for Sesko. He is a striker with 62 club goals to his name in his career so far, plus 11 international strikes. If his potential is as high as Zahovic believes, then whatever fee Ineos sign off this summer will probably end up looking cheap.
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