Benjamin Sesko’s £74 million move to Manchester United has hit an early snag, with the Slovenia striker yet to find the net in four appearances. Former United forward Louis Saha warns the 22 year old’s struggles stem from a deeper issue within the squad.
Saha, who scored 42 goals across 124 United appearances, pinpoints the club’s midfield deficiencies as the root cause of Sesko’s slow start. The former striker believes Sesko has all the necessary tools to succeed but lacks the crucial link between midfield and attack that every striker needs to thrive.
“I think he’s capable if the manager managed to get that link between midfield and striker,” Saha explained on The Athletic FC Podcast. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the midfielder we wanted. So we’re still very weak in that department. And this is why I think Sesko will struggle maybe a little bit until we get that sorted.”
Despite these concerns, Saha praised Sesko’s physical presence and technical abilities. The former France international highlighted the young striker’s height, aerial prowess, and skill set as reasons for optimism once the team’s structural issues are resolved.
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United’s summer transfer window highlighted their midfield problems when they failed to secure Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, their primary target for the position. The deal proved too expensive, leaving manager Ruben Amorim without the deep lying playmaker his system requires.
This failure has placed additional pressure on attacking midfielders Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to step up their performances immediately. Saha emphasised that these players “will have to kick on very soon” to provide adequate service to Sesko and prevent the striker from carrying the team’s attacking burden alone.
The tactical setup under Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation demands a central striker who can serve as a reference point whilst also running behind defenders and linking play. However, this system’s success hinges on midfield balance, an area where United’s current options have shown mobility limitations that created spacing problems during the previous season.
Sesko remains upbeat despite his goal drought, acknowledging the Premier League’s intensity compared to his previous experience in the Bundesliga. Speaking to Ekipa during the international break with Slovenia, he noted that “the intensity of the games is definitely much greater, and the calibre of players and teammates is also elevated.”
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The striker has made three substitute appearances in the Premier League and started once in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town. His record at RB Leipzig, where he netted 39 goals across two seasons, demonstrates his finishing ability when properly supplied.
“I am staying strong and I am positive,” Sesko stated, expressing confidence that his adjustment period is nearing its end. He emphasised his growing comfort level with each training session and his excitement about representing one of football’s most prestigious clubs.
