Manchester United’s January window could shape up to be unexpectedly busy, and Fabrizio Romano has shared the latest on their plans as injury worries add to the equation.
Benjamin Sesko’s injury in the Spurs game put a huge dampener on things, and the international break’s lack of communication from the club only made things worse.
Regardless of how serious it was, Sesko was sure to miss some games, and with Joshua Zirkzee the only senior backup who’s a natural striker, the situation is precarious.
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Fabrizio Romano has now shared the latest on the club’s January plans, as the latest Sesko injury update has emerged.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesHow Benjamin Sesko’s injury shapes Man Utd’s January window
Ruben Amorim said after the game against Spurs that Man Utd might need to look in the January market after the injury to his first-choice striker.
It looked like the Man Utd manager was ready to back down on the promise he made about not making any short-term deals because the situation was desperate.
United are no strangers to January deals for stop-gap options, but they go against Ineos’ philosophy, which is why Sesko’s latest injury update would have calmed the nerves at Old Trafford.
As per Romano, Sesko’s injury is expected to keep him out for only three weeks, and he could be back in training as soon as the start of December.
It means he will be available for the busy festive period, thereby changing the club’s January plans.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “If it was going to be a very long injury, maybe 3 months, maybe four months, maybe 6 months, maybe an ACL, in that case, Man United had to sign a new striker in the January transfer window.
“What I can tell you is that Benjamin Sesko is expected to be out around three weeks. The hope of Man Utd staff is to have Sesko ready at the beginning of December. Expectation is a maximum of four weeks out.
“Now it’s a completely different feeling.”
Ineos and Ruben Amorim saved from a test of nerves
Sesko’s injury update saves Ineos and Amorim from making a judgement call borne out of panic that could have gone against their philosophy.
Romano adds in the video above that, such is their determination to not make any stop-gap moves, that Amorim is considering Joshua Zirkzee as a key player in the weeks ahead.
When Bryan Mbeumo and Amad leave for AFCON duties, and Sesko is ramping back up to full fitness, expect to see Zirkzee get more minutes.
The club are trying their hardest to not make any stop-gap signings in January, and only enter the market for a long-term option, like Patrick Dorgu last January.
Zirkzee’s return from the shadows and a better-than-expected diagnosis of Sesko’s injury saves them from making that difficult call.