Why Benjamin Sesko has been 'quietest' big signing for Manchester United: TNT Sports experts analyse new striker's arrival
By Tom Masters
Published 19/10/2025 at 12:05 GMT+1
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TNT Sports experts Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves have had their say on Benjamin Sesko since he made his £73.7 million move to Manchester United from RB Leipzig. Sesko scored 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga matches last season and was widely sought after, but opted for Old Trafford. However, he has struggled to make the impact United fans would have hoped for, scoring just twice in seven games.
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Benjamin Sesko has not had the easiest start to life at Old Trafford.
Since making his £73.7 million move to Manchester United from RB Leipzig in August, the Slovenian forward has scored just two Premier League goals in seven matches.
Those goals came in United’s two most recent fixtures, a 3-1 defeat to Brentford and a 2-0 win over Sunderland.
That shows there is hope Sesko can consistently deliver up front for United, something they have largely lacked since the days of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and co.
United finished in 15th place last season, scoring just 44 goals in the Premier League, so was expecting a 22-year-old to resolve all those issues himself ever likely?
TNT Sports expert Joe Cole is of the opinion that coming to Manchester United and making that impact right now is very difficult, no matter how good you are.
"I think he's looked raw, but I think any player coming into that Manchester United team, you’re coming into a broken system, it's really hard," Cole said.
"You almost have to be an individual like when Amad [Diallo] came in and he looked well, because Amad's a dribbler, and he can play in a bad system and he'll do three or four things that take your eye.
"I think Sesko's coming into a team which is really struggling. And I think he's looked like that.
"I don't want to judge him too early, but out of all of the big signings, I think he's been the quietest."
Sesko was one of three forward summer signings made by Manchester United as they desperately attempt to address their miserable form in front of goal.
Matheus Cunha joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, two players who scored a combined 35 Premier League goals last season.
When signing Cunha and Mbeumo, it seemed there was a change in direction from the United hierarchy – sign players who know what it takes in the Premier League.
Then they looked at Sesko, who scored 13 Bundesliga goals for Leipzig last season.
Owen Hargreaves, a man who knows both the Bundesliga and Manchester United well after spending seven years at Bayern Munich and four at Old Trafford, questioned that decision-making.
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"It's interesting. United went away, they had that opportunity to get [Harry] Kane, didn't get him," Hargreaves said.
"But then they went and got Casemiro. And then they go and get a young striker in [Rasmus] Hojlund, who's since left, who's scored a ton of goals.
"Then in the end, they decided they're going to get Cunha and Mbeumo, who are 25, 26, 27, at that age, proven Premier League goalscorers.
"But then you go and get another young centre-forward, you just had one in Rasmus Hojlund - why would you go do that again?
"If you're going to buy players at a certain bracket, buy them at that bracket. So you've got Cunha and Mbeumo. Go get another one. Go get another 27-year-old striker that's ready."
Hojlund has been catching the eye in Serie A with Napoli, having scored four goals in six games across all competitions.
That has led to further questions about why Hojlund, who joined from Atalanta for £72m just two years ago, was exiled to bring in Sesko.
Hargreaves feels Hojlund’s stunning early-season form is down to losing the pressures of playing for United and, having seen similar with Marcus Rashford at Barcelona, he believes the club need strong characters right now to take on that burden.
"Sesko, he'll be okay," Hargreaves added. "Will he be there in three years' time? Because of maybe the pressure like Hojlund, I don't think he's ready to score 30 for United.
"I think he's too young. The pressure is different. I think you need somebody that's ready for that responsibility.
"What happened with Marcus [Rashford] and [Anthony] Martial and everybody since [they] left?
"Because of having to deal with that pressure, I think you need somebody that can stand there, like a Zlatan [Ibrahimovic].
"He's the only one that kind of survived there, went there and went: ‘Come on. I'll deal with the pressure.'"
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