Written by Ryan Baldi.
Manchester United’s £73.3 million signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig immediately raised eyebrows given the player’s relatively modest goal haul over two seasons with Leipzig – 13 Bundesliga goals in the recent campaign (in which he was their top scorer) and a broader tally of 39 goals in 87 appearances since joining in 2023.
That level of return could, at first glance, seem insufficient justification for such a substantial fee, especially given the unfulfilled potential still in the 22-year-old.
Yet beneath this scepticism lies a well-constructed case that Sesko is exceptionally well-positioned to thrive within Ruben Amorim’s rebuild.
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First, his arrival coincides with the summer acquisitions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, brought in from Wolves and Brentford respectively at a combined cost of around £130 million.
This trio of attacking talent promises a potent mix: Premier League-tested creators flanking a physical focal point in Sesko, offering him abundant high-quality scoring chances.
Moreover, Sesko’s profile suits the Premier League and Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system like a glove. Standing at 6ft 5in (195 cm), blessed with power, pace, exceptional stamina and athleticism, he can press relentlessly, stretch defences and dominate aerially. Those attributes make him a perfect fit for a system demanding mobile, imposing front-line presence.
Despite those strengths, there is cause for caution. Some see Sesko as another expensive gamble on a young centre-forward with untapped promise. That mirrors United’s previous major investment in Rasmus Hojlund, signed from Atalanta for about £64 million in 2023, only for the Dane to deliver just four Premier League goals in 32 appearances in the 2024-25 season.
However, the comparison actually highlights Sesko’s more solid foundation. Before arriving at United, Hojlund’s career record stood at 27 goals in 87 senior matches. Sesko, by contrast, has already accumulated a far stronger scoring resume: 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig, plus his earlier form at Salzburg and on loan to total 90 goals in 210 senior outings.
It follows that Sesko’s arrival is not blind speculation but rather a structured investment in a player with proven production and physical traits tailored to United’s tactical blueprint. With Cunha and Mbeumo providing proven Premier League dynamism, United may have built the launchpad Sesko needs to finally deliver at the highest level.
Crucially, this signing underlines United’s ambition. If Sesko fulfils his potential, he could grow into one of Europe’s elite strikers over the next decade. Yet equally, he is primed to inject immediate goal threat into a United side desperate to restore attacking potency after a record-low 15th-place league finish last term saw the Red Devils muster just 44 goals in 38 games.
In Amorim’s system, surrounded by in-form creators and given his physical gifts, Sesko is not just the most exciting bet of United’s summer – he may be the smartest.
In the end, while price tags and expectations loom large, Sesko offers a rare blend of readiness and upward trajectory. If he hits his stride, United may find they’ve not merely brought in a young talent, but a foundational piece capable of reviving their Premier League prominence.
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