Sesko signing gives Man Utd's front three a whole new threat

Following Benjamin Sesko's move to Manchester United from RB Leipzig, football writer Ninad Barbadikar explains why the striker could be a perfect fit for Ruben Amorim's frontline.

Slovenian superstar Benjamin Sesko has joined Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha at Manchester United, coming from RB Leipzig to complete a new-look front three at Old Trafford.

Each of the signings represent a huge offensive upgrade to Ruben Amorim’s arsenal of attackers and will bring much-needed goals to the table.

Their combined tally of 48 goals scored across the Premier League and Bundesliga last season eclipses the number of top-flight goals managed by all United players together during the 2024/25 campaign.

Cunha and Mbeumo have already shown bright sparks during the Premier League Summer Series final game against Everton, but how does Sesko elevate Amorim’s attack at United and how will he work within the existing set-up?

Sesko brings an all-round presence

With four full seasons of senior-level football in Austria and Germany, Sesko has had the minutes in his legs to put together the tools of being a very promising all-round striker.

Sesko's career stats (league only)

Data from Opta via FBRef

Standing at 6ft 5in and inspired by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a former United striker, Sesko seems a good fit already for the physical nature of the Premier League, especially with his ability in the air.

Winning more than 55 per cent of his aerial duels in each of his Bundesliga seasons, Sesko’s strengths in the air make him useful in many ways. Whether it be attacking crosses in the box, or helping his team get further up the pitch by being a magnet for long balls from goal-kicks or from defenders.

Not only that, Sesko invites the ball often to his feet when the team is building out from the back and is deceptively good in 1v1 duels. Averaging nearly three dribbles during the 2024/25 season, he had an encouraging success rate of 52 per cent.

Those figures given his stature make him a tricky prospect to defend against in games.

All of these qualities at the age of 22 put him in contrast with Rasmus Hojlund, with whom Sesko will likely battle for a first-team spot in Amorim’s XI.

How Hojlund and Sesko compare (2024/25)

Data from Opta Analyst

Hojlund profiles differently to Sesko with his mobility and willingness to run in-behind time and again. Whereas Sesko alternates between showing for passes and running in-behind, Hojlund has shown promise with his volume of runs made.

In the two seasons at Old Trafford, Hojlund has struggled aerially in the Premier League and in holding up the ball as well. Two aspects that Sesko will undoubtedly be able to fix from the get go.

Looking at pure goalscoring data, there isn’t a lot to separate the two strikers during the 2024/25 season. In what was Leipzig’s poorest Bundesliga season since gaining promotion, Sesko still managed to score 13 times. Whereas Hojlund only managed four goals in the Premier League.

All in all, while he still does have room for improvement, Sesko brings a lot of promise already to the table and looks ready to make a splash in the United set-up.

How will he combine with Cunha and Mbeumo?

To anticipate how he might gel with his new-found attacking partners, Sesko’s 2023/24 season with Leipzig might be a good blueprint to look back on.

A season where he played alongside Dani Olmo and Xavi Simons, two playmakers who benefitted greatly from his hold-up play. Cunha in that left No 10 role has shown promise already with his movement and link-up play with the likes of Bruno Fernandes in attack.

Whereas Mbeumo has also glimpses of real promise with his runs in-behind and crossing ability. Both of those players have joined United on the back of career-best individual seasons in the Premier League, with 15 goals for Cunha and 20 for Mbeumo.

Sesko will spearhead the attack in front of these two but his ability with his back to goal will fit in perfectly with Cunha and Mbeumo. Both players like to play one-two combination sequences before bursting into dangerous areas and getting shots or decisive passes and Sesko will help facilitate that.

Throw Fernandes into the mix and you have three creative players who can feed the ball to Sesko in a variety of ways in and outside the box to make use of his strengths.

How will United line up and what is Amorim seeking?

With Sesko’s addition, a new first-choice front three is starting to become apparent at Old Trafford. As a consequence of this, 30-year-old Fernandes might have to adjust to playing deeper in midfield more regularly ahead of the new season.

The Portuguese maestro had already been doing so out of necessity under Erik ten Hag and was played there more intentionally as part of Amorim’s system last season. Partnering him with the right midfield player will be important for balance.

Cunha taking the left, Sesko focusing on the middle and Mbeumo taking charge of the right, on paper that combination looks almost perfect. Although it is ultimately, only on paper so far.

Ultimately this combination of players will take time to gel and time spent on the pitch will be just as important as time spent in training.

From the team’s displays during Summer Series, it is becoming more and more apparent that Amorim wants his forwards to generate space for themselves in behind by inviting the opposition press and then quickly playing through it in vertical sequences.

In order for such an approach to work, the forwards need to be just as competent in receiving between the lines, as they are in carrying it forward.

With each of Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko being effective carriers of the ball to varying degrees, this approach will no doubt bring their strengths to the fore.

After their many troubles in scoring goals last season, Amorim and Co now look set to hurt Premier League defences with a brand new trio ready to go for 2025/26.