Man Utd can forget Sesko by signing ‘one of Europe’s best’

It all feels a little inevitable, doesn’t it? A bright pre-season swiftly squashed as Manchester United fall behind to an early Viktor Gyokeres goal at Old Trafford, the camera duly panning to his former boss Ruben Amorim looking forlorn on the touchline. It’s written in the stars.

Amorim has been forced to witness his one-time Sporting CP talisman join Arsenal for a fee of around £64m this summer, despite prior claims that the Portuguese coach was keen on a reunion with a player who scored 66 goals in just 68 games under his watch in Lisbon.

Hopefully, however, it is a different number nine stealing the headlines when the two sides go head to head later this month, with speculation ramping up regarding United’s own search for a striker.

At present, the leading name to fill that striking void appears to long-term target, Benjamin Sesko, although would the 22-year-old RB Leipzig starlet really be the right solution?

Latest on Man Utd’s move Sesko

It’s been a summer all about strikers, with Sesko right at the centre of the transfer merry-go-round.

Indeed, the Slovenian marksman at one stage appeared to be the leading target to join the Gunners, before Mikel Arteta and co settled on Gyokeres, having also emerged as a leading target for Newcastle United.

Identified as the man to potentially replace the wantaway Alexander Isak at St James’ Park, Sesko might be yet another high-profile target to spurn the Magpies’ advances, however, if the Red Devils get their way.

As reported this week, the Old Trafford side are also now in the mix for the striker’s signature, with United said to be working on a deal for a player who could cost in the region of £60m-£70m.

There have been differing reports over whether the former Red Bull Salzburg man would favour a move to Manchester or not, although journalist Graeme Bailey has outlined that Amorim’s side are “confident” of securing a deal.

With a potential exchange involving Rasmus Hojlund also mooted, there are avenues for United to seal this switch before the season rolls around. That said, is there not a better target out there to consider?

Why Man Utd need to avoid Benjamin Sesko

Sesko has reached double figures for league goals in each of his last two seasons in Germany, although whether that form would translate to English football remains to be seen, with United having been stung by their £73m investment in a certain Jadon Sancho from the Bundesliga.

The capture of the then-Borussia Dortmund man – who has scored just 12 times in 83 games in four years in Manchester – saw the Red Devils fork out for an exciting talent with sky high potential, with Sesko’s addition likely to be with the same aim in mind.

However, at a time when Amorim’s side are still reeling after a season in which they finished 15th in the Premier League, after netting only 44 league goals collectively, perhaps a more proven, risk-averse option is required.

Enter, Ollie Watkins.

While Sesko has nudged ahead on the centre-forward shortlist, reports have suggested that Amorim’s preference would be to go for Watkins, with the England international following in the footsteps of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as a top-flight-ready acquisition.

Although Aston Villa appear to have rebuffed any interest so far this summer, a suitable bid of around £60m may well tempt them into a sale, not least with the former Brentford man approaching 30.

There is a sense that Watkins would be a mere short-term fix due to his age, although having scored at least ten league goals in each of his five seasons in England’s top tier, he would represent one of the few guarantees on the market.

United only have to look to the past for reason for optimism, having famously plucked Dwight Yorke from Villa Park on a £12.6m deal back in the summer of 1998, following the enigmatic striker’s stunning stint in the Midlands.

Like Watkins – who boasts 87 goals in 223 games for the Villans – Yorke had been a revelation for his former side, prior to joining Alex Ferguson’s ranks, having netted 98 times in 287 games.

While he would go on to last just four years at the Theatre of Dreams, the Trinidad and Tobago sensation more than made an impact, having notably scored 29 times in all competitions during the famed treble-winning season.

Much like Yorke – who was 26 at the time of the move – Watkins is still at the peak of his powers, having registered 31 goals and assists in all competitions last time out under Unai Emery. That tally includes 14 assists, showcasing that he is as much of a provider as he is a supreme goalscorer.

Lauded as “one of the best strikers in Europe” by Emery, the 29-year-old should need no period of adaptation to life at United, with the prospect there for him to also rekindle his prior partnership with Mbeumo, following their days together at Brentford.

Sesko might be the young, glamour name, but Watkins’ brilliance has already been seen first-hand across five consistent years at Villa. As Ferguson witnessed in the case of Yorke, adding a proven Premier League striker into the mix could well be devastating.