The Scout assesses Manchester United's new forward as his price is revealed in Fantasy Premier League.
Benjamin Sesko's (£7.5m) aerial ability can add an extra element to Manchester United’s attack in 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League.
The Slovenian joins the Red Devils on the back of 21 goals and five assists in 44 appearances across all competitions for German side RB Leipzig last season.
It’s worth noting that four of those goals were converted penalties. However, similarly to Man Utd’s other summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo (both £8.0m), who were first-choice penalty-takers at their previous clubs, Sesko is expected to remain behind Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m) in the pecking order for spot-kicks.
How does Sesko's aerial threat compare with Man Utd forwards?
Sesko’s aerial ability, nonetheless, looks set to boost his team-mates' potential for assists.
He won 70 headed duels in the Bundesliga last season, more than any Man Utd player recorded in the Premier League.
Indeed, that total was more than the combined 51 of the Red Devils’ two forwards in 2024/25, Rasmus Hojlund (£6.5m) and Joshua Zirkzee (£6.0m).
Further comparison of the trio underlines Sesko’s huge influence in the air. His 57.3 per cent successful headers and 14 headed shots were also more than the combined tallies of Hojlund and Zirkzee.
Sesko's aerial success v Zirkzee and Hojlund
| Player | Successful headers | % Headers successful | Headed shots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sesko | 70 | 57.3% | 14 |
| Zirkzee | 21 | 28.4% | 7 |
| Hojlund | 30 | 25.0% | 5 |
Who will profit from Sesko’s arrival?
An assessment of the crossing statistics across the Premier League highlights why Sesko can prove a crucial part of Man Utd’s new-look attack.
Mbeumo and Fernandes placed first and third respectively for this statistic in 2024/25 Fantasy, with 202 and 186 respectively. They also ranked among the top seven for successful crosses.
Cunha ranked joint-15th for crosses, with his total of 142 just behind the 144 of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (£10.5m), for example.
A quick glance at the wing-back numbers indicate Amad (£6.5m) could also prove more productive now, after Sesko's arrival. An impressive 45.2 per cent of his crosses last season were accurate, with 19 of his 42 attempts finding their target.
Patrick Dorgu (£4.5m), on the other hand, clearly has a lot more room for improvement down the opposite left flank. He mustered just three successful crosses last season, with a mere 7.7 per cent success rate.
Man Utd's most successful crossers 2024/25*
| Player | Crosses | Successful crosses | % crosses successful |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mbeumo | 202 | 49 | 24.3% |
| Fernandes | 186 | 42 | 22.6% |
| Cunha | 142 | 26 | 18.3% |
| Amad | 42 | 19 | 45.2% |
| Dorgu | 39 | 3 | 7.7% |
*When Mbeumo and Cunha played for Brentford and Wolves, respectively
So, is Sesko worth buying in Fantasy?
Man Utd’s tough early schedule suggests it might be worth waiting before looking to invest in their attackers immediately.
Sesko will face Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in the first five Gameweeks alone and could struggle for goals in the opening stages.
At a point where the identically priced Joao Pedro and Jean-Philippe Mateta (both £7.5m) approach the start of the season in prolific form, it’s best to wait until the fixtures turn for Man Utd before considering their new striker.
For now, Fernandes remains the best option if you’re looking to invest in Man Utd from the outset, with the introduction of the defensive contribution metric only enhancing his prospects further in 2025/26.
See: What are defensive contribution points?
Amad’s excellent delivery from the right could also be very productive with Sesko onboard, making the Ivorian a great mid-price pick when the fixtures turn in Man Utd's favour.