So, Benjamin Šeško. 22 years old. Tall, quick, raw. Linked with United. Again.
The big question flying around is: are we about to make the same mistake we made with Rasmus Højlund? Is Šeško another “unproven striker”? Too expensive? Not ready?
Let’s break it all down.
Another Højlund?
One of the biggest myths going around is that Šeško is “unproven” and comparable to Rasmus Højlund. Let’s clear this up.
Šeško has:
- Two full seasons in the Bundesliga
- Three Champions League campaigns (one with Salzburg, two with Leipzig)
Now, compare that to Højlund before he joined United:
- 32 appearances for Atalanta – 9 goals (yes, just nine)
- Before that, 18 games in the Austrian league – 9 goals
- Total: Two seasons, 18 goals
That’s a massive difference. Šeško isn’t some raw talent learning on the job, he’s already a level above where Højlund was when we signed him.
United’s Long-Term Interest in Šeško
We’ve been scouting him for over five years (as reported by Andy Mitten, one of the most reliable United journalists out there). When United tracks a player for that long, it usually means they fit a clear profile.
Remember, we’ve missed out on players like Moises Caicedo and Julián Álvarez in the past because we hesitated. If Šeško is a target we’ve monitored for years, that should tell us something.
Calling him “unproven” just doesn’t hold up. He’s more experienced, more tested, and clearly ahead of where Højlund was at the same stage.
Too Expensive?
First, let’s talk about the market, because right now, it’s brutal.
Take João Pedro, for example. Chelsea paid £60 million for him. Guess how many non-penalty goals he scored last season? Five. Yes, five. (Shoutout to @OddsOnFPL for highlighting this—I was shocked too.)
Now, Chelsea spends a lot, we all know that. But here’s the thing: they don’t overpay stupidly like United does. They buy high, but they also sell smart. So when we see fees like £50+5 m for a striker with five non-penalty goals, it tells us one thing: the market is broken.
So Is £65m for Šeško Really Too Much?
Benjamin Šeško is 22, physically dominant, and scored 11 non-penalty goals last season. But here’s the context:
- RB Leipzig had their worst season in years, finishing 7th—their lowest since 2017-18.
- Before this, Leipzig had never finished outside the top 4 without securing European football.
In a down year for the whole team, Šeško still delivered. Shouldn’t he get some slack for that? If anything, maintaining his output in a struggling side should be seen as a positive.
So when people say £65m is too much, I ask: Compared to what? The market is insane, and Šeško’s potential makes that fee look far from unreasonable.
If Not Šeško, Then Who?
Let’s be honest; who are United’s actual alternatives right now? Some fans throw out names without thinking:
- “Sign Osimhen!” – Except he wanted massive wages and now is with Galatasaray.
- “Why not Mateta?” – Crystal Palace have no intention of selling him.
- “Go for Watkins!” – A solid option, but Aston Villa won’t let him go cheap. Even if they did, it’d cost £50m+, and after years of reckless spending, United can’t afford another overpay for a 30 year old striker.
So where does that leave us? Šeško is a smart move.
He’s 22, has resale value, and fits the profile of a forward United need. And let’s not pretend Arsenal weren’t seriously in for him, they only moved elsewhere because they got a better deal. If a title-chasing side rated him, that says something.
United can’t keep making the same mistakes. The club has to be smarter in the market, and Šeško represents a sensible, forward-thinking signing. Sometimes the obvious choice is the right one.
United’s Rebuild: The Right Approach
As @LyesBouzidi10 pointed out on YouTube (and I completely agree), look at how Liverpool handled their rebuild – they didn’t chase 29-year-olds. Instead, they targeted young talents or players in that sweet 24-26 age range like Van Dijk, Salah, Mané and Robertson. That’s exactly the strategy we should stick to.
I’m not saying we should never sign older players, but only when the price makes sense. For Watkins, our limit should be £50m – not a penny more. If you start negotiating against yourself, suddenly you’re at £65m and the deal stops making sense.
What’s really encouraging is seeing INEOS’ clear transfer strategy taking shape:
- Last window: Defense-focused (Yoro, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Heaven, Dorgu)
- This summer: Attack-minded (Cunha and Mbeumo already secured – proven PL performers who’ll deliver goals and assists)
- Next window: Midfield reinforcement (Ben Jacobs reports we’re eyeing Baleba for next season)
This structured, phased approach actually makes sense. We’re addressing needs systematically rather than the scattergun spending of previous years. The rebuild won’t happen overnight, but at least we’re finally seeing a proper plan.
What Šeško Brings to United
Now that we’ve addressed the misconceptions about his potential and price, let’s examine exactly what kind of player he is – and why he could be transformative for us.
The Isak Comparison (With Context)
I’ll probably get hate for this, but the player he most reminds me of is Alexander Isak. Before you react – I’m not saying he’s at Isak’s level yet (Newcastle’s £150m valuation shows why), but their profiles are strikingly similar:
- Towering physical presence (both 6’4″)
- Comfortable dropping deep to link play
- Surprisingly agile dribbling for their size
- Clinical finishing ability
The stats back this up when comparing Šeško’s 23/24 season to Isak’s current campaign:
- Non-penalty goals/90: 0.48 vs 0.52
- Shot conversion rate: 18% vs 21%
- Progressive carries/90: 2.1 vs 2.3
(Source: FBref)
Why He’ll Thrive With Our New Signings
Unlike Højlund last season, Šeško would have actual creative support:
- Cunha (PL-proven, understands the CF role)
- Mbeumo (intelligent movement, quality service)
In our 3-4-2-1, these two would provide the clever through balls and crosses that maximize Šeško’s dual threat – both making runs and dropping deep to combine.
While he would’ve been perfect for Arsenal’s system, that doesn’t mean he can’t excel here. His complete skillset and room for growth make him exactly the type of signing we should be making in this rebuild phase.
One key factor that makes Šeško such an appealing option is physicality – something we’ve sorely lacked. Standing at 6’4.5″, he instantly upgrades our aerial threat, both in open play and set pieces.
Crossing + Aerial Threat = Perfect Combo
- Mbeumo attempted the most crosses in the Premier League last season.
- Gyökeres (a previous target) is poor in the air, but Šeško wins aerial duels consistently, imagine the damage he could do with Mbeumo, Shaw or Dorgu whipping in deliveries.
- For perspective: Yoane Wissa scored 4 headed goals last season… at just 5’7″. Now picture what a 6’4″ striker like Šeško could do.
Fearless Shooting & Improving Involvement
- His shot map over the last two seasons shows he isn’t afraid to pull the trigger—even from range. With his power, those long-range efforts could become a real weapon.
- Comparing his 23/24 and 24/25 heat maps, he was far less involved last season (likely due to defensive duties in a struggling Leipzig side). In a more attack-focused role, his output should rise. 24/25 top – 23/24 bottom.
Rating the Signing
If I had to score it:
- Šeško: 7.8/10 (More polished than Højlund was at signing, fits our needs, and has clear upside)
- Højlund (at time of signing): 6.2/10 (Raw, unproven at top level, lacked support)
Final Thoughts
Financially, this deal makes sense £65m is fair for his age and potential. And while I’d love to see Šeško vs. Gyökeres on the opening day, Amorim might not start him immediately. Still, long-term, he’s exactly the profile we need.
Let’s hope we get this over the line. This could be a smart, forward-thinking signing.
Final Thoughts – Šeško’s Time?
Stats and profiles aside, just watch him play. The way he moves at 6’4″, the audacious shots, the hold-up play it’s all there. I dropped a cinematic comp on X called “COMPLETE STRIKER” ; 5 minutes of pure vibes. No overanalysis, just what if he’s wearing red next season?
Follow @UTDm4nny for more edits (I follow back!). Let’s manifest this deal – imagine him towering over defenders at Old Trafford.
See you in the next one! YANITEDYANITEDYANITED!
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
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