Paul Scholes has named two strikers who would be better fits for Manchester United than incoming £74m signing Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko is set to be unveiled as Manchester United’s latest signing in the coming days following a lucrative agreement with RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old Slovenian forward has netted 39 goals in 87 outings for the Bundesliga side.
Manchester United fended off competition from Newcastle United for his signature, while Arsenal had also shown interest before opting to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting instead.
However, Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes is sceptical about the move, expressing concerns that Sesko could follow in Rasmus Hojlund’s footsteps and struggle in the Premier League.
Scholes also identified Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen as strikers who, in his view, offer stronger profiles than Sesko.
Watkins has been tipped for a potential exit from Villa Park this summer and is reportedly open to joining Manchester United, despite the club’s disappointing 2024-25 season.
Over the last three seasons, the England international has netted 50 Premier League goals and attracted a transfer bid from Arsenal in January.
Osimhen, on the other hand, sealed a permanent £65m switch to Galatasaray last month after Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea all opted against signing the Nigerian from Napoli.
‘From Sesko’s point of view, he would have more chance to develop at Newcastle than Man United and he needs that,’ Scholes said on The Overlap.
‘To be a centre-forward for Man United, as we’ve found with Hojlund, you need to be ready. It has to be now.
‘Hojlund just isn’t quite good enough for that, as we’ve seen, but he’s not had a chance to develop.
‘Going to Newcastle for two or three years might have been the best thing for Sesko. But you can’t turn down Man United for Newcastle, you just can’t.
‘Manchester United finished 15th last year and Newcastle qualified for the Champions League. But which club is realistically going to have success first? Are Man United going to win the league again before Newcastle ever do? Of course they are.
‘That is why Sesko wants to go there but from United’s point of view, is it the best bit of business?
‘I still think you’re in the same boat as having Hojlund. United don’t need another project, they had that with Hojlund.
‘What they need is a centre forward ready to go. That’s not out there. Osimhen is probably the only one who was out there.
‘Watkins is a brilliant striker who works his nuts off, I don’t think he’s the best finisher, but I think he would be a better option now with Sesko and Hojlund behind him.
‘I think those two are second or third strikers behind a main striker but maybe that isn’t out there right now.
‘Osimhen might have been the one, he’s ready-made, but there’s nothing else now. Even Gyokeres might be a bit of a project, you’re not quite sure what you’re getting with him.’
Newcastle showed interest in Sesko after Alexander Isak told club officials he was open to exploring a move this summer.
Sharing Scholes’ view, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher feels St James’ Park would have been a better environment for Sesko’s development, though he acknowledges why the striker appears to have chosen Manchester United.
‘The name of Manchester United – no matter where they finish in the Premier League – is so important,’ he said.
‘We’re talking about one of the biggest football clubs in the world, it’s an institution.
‘Newcastle will never be Man United but from Sesko’s point of view, look at the track record of young players at United and the track record of Eddie Howe and what he’s done with young players.
‘Eddie Howe improves players and if I was Sesko that would definitely be at the back of my mind.’
Should Sesko finalise his switch to Manchester United, he will be Ruben Amorim’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
