Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has launched a scathing critique of his old club's transfer strategy, specifically targeting the £74 million acquisition of young forward Benjamin Sesko. In a candid interview, Saha labelled the signing as a "wrong decision" that he believes represents an even greater blunder than the recent appointment and subsequent sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.
A Costly Summer of Investment
Manchester United backed former manager Ruben Amorim with a significant spending spree last summer, investing almost £200 million in new talent. The arrivals included Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and goalkeeper Senne Lammens. While several of these signings have shown immediate promise, Sesko's struggle to adapt has drawn particular scrutiny and criticism from club legends.
Cunha and Mbeumo have already endeared themselves to the Old Trafford faithful, with both players scoring in Sunday's impressive 3-2 victory over title favourites Arsenal. Their performances have been hailed as shrewd acquisitions. Lammens, too, has impressed since his arrival, displacing Andre Onana as the first-choice goalkeeper and showing signs he could hold that position for years to come.
The £74 Million Question Mark
In stark contrast, Benjamin Sesko has failed to justify his hefty price tag since completing his move from RB Leipzig. The 22-year-old Slovenian international has managed just five goals across all competitions, a return that falls far short of expectations for a player brought in to lead the line.
Speaking to Gambling.com, Saha expressed his sympathy for Sesko as an individual, describing him as a "terrific lad" and a "good player" who apparently trains exceptionally well. However, the former French striker was unequivocal in his assessment of the transfer itself, questioning the logic behind expecting a relatively unproven 22-year-old to immediately become the club's first-choice striker and shoulder the goal-scoring burden.
"I think what they have done wrong is bringing in a young player, like 21 or 22, and expecting them to score 20 goals a season without an experienced player ahead of them," Saha stated. "We've had Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy before. You know, all those players are so important for young players."
The Pressure of Performing at Old Trafford
Saha drew from his own experience at United, where he learned from established stars like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Carlos Tevez. He argued that young strikers need that protective buffer of experienced players ahead of them in the pecking order to develop without the crushing pressure of immediate expectation.
"I was able to learn because I was less under pressure because of those players," Saha explained. "Sesko is trying to perform and score every week, and it's almost impossible under that pressure. Who has decided this for the last three years? Oh my god, it's a wrong, wrong decision, and it's even worse than picking the wrong manager."
Sesko's difficult start is compounded by the context of his move. He was a sought-after talent, with Arsenal and Newcastle United also showing interest before he opted for Old Trafford. Arsenal ultimately signed Viktor Gyokeres instead, who has also experienced a slow adaptation to the Premier League.
Current Situation and Future Prospects
The striker's game time has been limited recently. He was an unused substitute in the derby win over Manchester City and was only introduced for the final ten minutes of the victory at Arsenal. With caretaker manager Michael Carrick now in charge, Sesko will hope for more opportunities, though pundits like Tim Sherwood have suggested this is unlikely in the immediate future.
Despite the criticism of the Sesko transfer, Manchester United's form on the pitch has been positive. Consecutive wins against Manchester City and Arsenal have propelled the team back into the Champions League places as they prepare for their upcoming fixture against Fulham. The debate around their transfer strategy, however, particularly this high-profile £74 million gamble, is set to continue.
