Manchester United have signed Benjamin Sesko from Leipzig, but what will he bring to the squad?
Manchester United desperately wanted a new striker this summer. Just near the end of last season, one of the first names to be linked with Ruben Amorim’s side was Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.
Amorim valued his strength, intensity and ability to hold the ball up under pressure, allowing teammates to come up from deep and join the attack.
But Delap joined Chelsea, leaving Amorim and United’s recruitment department to wander the wood in search of a similar profile. United explored a move for Viktor Gyokeres but he preferred Arsenal. They then narrowed their search to either Benjamin Sesko or Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa’s valuation of the 30-year-old Watkins was prohibitive, so United chose Sesko instead, a striker they have had on their radar since he was 19.
What makes Sesko such an attractive player for Amorim, at least in comparison to Rasmus Hojlund?
For starters, with a top speed of 35.69 km/h last season Sesko has explosive pace, which Amorim values in his centre-forwards.
In United’s squad, with two wing-backs in Patrick Dorgu and Amad Diallo, two pacey No 10s in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and a No 8 who loves to play pinpoint forward passes in Bruno Fernandes, there are the outlines of a team capable of fast transitions.
United’s opponents would have to guard against fast, decisive breaks. They will be looking to move the ball up the pitch quickly and Amorim loves strikers who can make long and direct runs into the channels, either receiving the ball or dragging defenders out of position to open up spaces for the No 10s.
Last season, Leipzig scored the second-highest number of counter-attacking goals in the Bundesliga and Sesko played an important part in that.
Beyond Hojlund’s struggles and noticeable lack of output – he only scored five Premier League goals last season – a key issue is also how well the player can hold the ball under pressure.
After all, some of his inability to score goals has been put down to a glaring weakness in the supply line behind him. That is undeniable. But Amorim would have been frustrated by the player’s struggles in the air. Although he is 6ft 3in, Hojlund won only a meagre 25 per cent of his aerial duels last season.
Due to United’s weaknesses in midfield, they regularly need to play the ball up into their No 9, who is then expected to hold off his marker while his fellow Red Devils assemble. Hojlund’s inability to do this repeatedly led to United being unable to muster attacks. The Dane would lose the duel and United’s opponents would come bearing down on them once more.
Sesko at 6ft 5in is excellently tall but crucially also able to use his height and strength to fend off opponents. Last season, the Slovenian won nearly 60% of aerial duels and had 1.48 successful take-ons per 90, in comparison to Hojlund’s 0.33.
With Sesko taking up the central role between Cunha and Mbeumo, Amorim will have the dynamic forward who can serve as an effective focal point for his team’s attack.
