Manchester United is placing a major bet on Benjamin Sesko, a 1.96m Slovenian striker seen by many as a refined “Haaland-type” — and perhaps even their own version of Kylian Mbappé. After years of wavering between a focus on development and the obsession to reclaim former glory, the club is leaning into potential over star-name splurges.
The 2024/25 season brought another disappointment for fans. Under Ruben Amorim, United ranked fifth from the bottom in goals scored, with only three players netting more than four goals and none reaching double figures. Their two heavily invested strikers, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, combined for just seven goals despite a £115 million outlay. United’s goal tally fell behind even mid-table sides like Bournemouth and Brentford, and they ranked last in headed goals (4) with one of the league’s lowest conversion rates at 8.7%.
Sesko, however, offers qualities United sorely lack. Last season, he scored 21 goals for RB Leipzig in all competitions, including 14 in the Bundesliga — finishing eighth in the scoring charts despite starting only 18 matches. He averaged a goal every 100 minutes and boasted a 23% conversion rate, better than Harry Kane (21%) and Darwin Nunez (19%). His aerial prowess is elite, with eight headed goals over two seasons — double United’s entire team output for 2024/25. Originally a basketball enthusiast, Sesko’s vertical leap has become a lethal weapon.
Speed is another asset. His top recorded pace of 35.7 km/h ranked 26th among nearly 500 Bundesliga players. This makes him a rare modern striker who can hold up play, burst past defenders, and dominate in the air — attributes that were previously spread across different forwards at United. In Amorim’s 3-4-3, Sesko is expected to be the focal point, freeing Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha from unsuitable false-nine roles, while giving Bruno Fernandes the freedom to drop deeper and dictate play.
Sesko also contributes defensively, averaging 1.5 successful ball recoveries per match in the final third — well above Hojlund (0.8) and Zirkzee (0.6). Yet challenges remain. The Premier League’s physicality and deep-defending opponents will demand adaptability from a striker accustomed to the open spaces of Leipzig’s direct system.
Christopher Vivell, United’s recruitment chief, has signed Sesko for a third time after bringing him to both Salzburg (2019) and Leipzig (2023). Known for discovering talents like Joško Gvardiol, Karim Adeyemi, Dominik Szoboszlai, Dayot Upamecano, and in part Erling Haaland, Vivell sees Sesko as more than just a £74 million signing — he’s a statement of intent under INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s “Project 150” vision for United’s 150th anniversary in 2028.
At 22, Sesko is still a gamble, no matter how big his upside. Success will require the right environment, a coherent system, and patience. But if all goes to plan, Ratcliffe may not need to “buy Mbappé” after all — United might already have found their own.
Sources: Znews