As the Premier League attracts many prominent attacking talents this summer, RB Leipzig`s forward Benjamin Sesko is among the next names potentially joining them. With just weeks remaining until transfer deadline day, Newcastle United and Manchester United are competing to sign him.
Sesko has sparked a bidding war between the two clubs, each viewing the 22-year-old as a solution to their squad needs. Reportedly, Leipzig rejected an offer from Newcastle worth approximately $87 million plus $6 million in add-ons. While Newcastle is likely preparing a revised bid, Manchester United submitted an offer of the same $87 million transfer fee, with an additional $12 million contingent on specific conditions. This intense competition for the player underscores Sesko`s reputation as one of football`s most promising young strikers, particularly given his impressive tally of 39 goals over two seasons with Leipzig.
The Slovenian international is arguably the most promising young striker still available on the market. He represents an enticing prospect for a United squad that has long sought a reliable goal-scorer, and for Newcastle, who appear set to lose Alexander Isak to Liverpool. However, at 22, Sesko is understandably still a work in progress. This raises two crucial questions: Is he truly prepared for a move to the Premier League, and will either Newcastle or United be the ideal environment for his development?
Sesko`s Untapped Potential
Sesko possesses two innate qualities crucial for a striker: pace and power. These attributes predictably make him a dominant physical presence both inside the penalty box and in aerial duels. He also demonstrates notable comfort using both feet and his head, though he favors his right. Clearly, his diverse skillset is highly desirable for any number 9. Furthermore, his record at Leipzig is respectable, with 39 goals in 87 appearances across all competitions.
The paramount question, however, for both Sesko and his future club, is how to transform a player with an impressive skill set into a truly complete forward. There`s certainly room for improvement concerning his goal-scoring efficacy: he averaged 0.43 expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes, placing him in the 69th percentile among forwards in Europe`s top five leagues. This figure drops to the 50th percentile when considering non-penalty xG per 90, averaging 0.35 over the past year. A comparison with Liverpool`s new signing, Hugo Ekitike, who is only a year older and also played in the Bundesliga last season, highlights a clear disparity: Ekitike averaged 0.48 xG per 90 (74th percentile), while his non-penalty xG stood at 0.6 (90th percentile).
These statistics alone suggest a degree of inconsistency, but the encouraging news for Sesko and any interested club is that these issues appear rectifiable. Introducing more variety in his shot selection could be beneficial, particularly as he tends to rely on sheer power when struggling to identify the optimal goal-scoring opportunity.
Securing the Ideal Fit
For both Newcastle and Manchester United, acquiring Sesko is fundamentally a gamble on his future potential. This implies that the responsibility for his successful development rests equally on the player himself and his new club, which must cultivate the right environment for his talent to flourish—a task often easier said than done.
At this juncture, the Red Devils remain something of an enigma. Manager Ruben Amorim notably maximized the potential of new Arsenal signing Viktor Gyokeres during their time together at Sporting Lisbon, where Gyokeres netted 97 goals in 102 appearances over two seasons. However, preparing a young striker for the unique demands of the Premier League could prove to be an entirely different challenge. Sesko would likely thrive in Amorim`s favored 3-4-3 system, which is set to form the foundation of United`s rebuilding efforts ahead of the new manager`s first full season. There`s scope for Sesko to forge a strong partnership with the steadfast Bruno Fernandes, who has shouldered the majority of the Red Devils` attacking burden for too long. Sesko would probably be the marquee addition among a summer of attacking reinforcements, which also includes Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
However, one must also consider the inherent baggage associated with being Manchester United`s latest number 9. Despite the club being more than a decade removed from its golden era, immense pressure still burdens any player showing even a glimmer of promise, potentially hindering their development. Rasmus Hojlund might be the latest casualty of this phenomenon; after two seasons, he has yet to establish himself as the primary attacking threat for United—perhaps an unreasonable expectation for a player who arrived at Old Trafford at just 20 years old.
In this scenario, Newcastle might appear to be a more suitable destination for a player like Sesko, even though they harbor significant ambitions after once again qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, and replacing Isak will be a formidable challenge. Manager Eddie Howe also boasts an impressive track record with developing raw talent: Anthony Gordon has remarkably transformed into a dependable attacker at Newcastle following modest spells at Everton, and similar progress is emerging with Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock. Ensuring Sesko fulfills his potential, particularly if he is tasked with filling Isak`s shoes, will likely represent the ultimate test of Howe`s ability to extract the best from his players. Nevertheless, the pressure on both the player and the manager, should Sesko have a slow start, will undoubtedly be different—and potentially more equitable.
