{"id":494198,"date":"2026-03-25T09:21:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T09:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/494198\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T09:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T09:21:13","slug":"man-united-backed-to-replace-benjamin-sesko-as-striker-handed-brutal-reality-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/494198\/","title":{"rendered":"Man United backed to replace Benjamin Sesko as striker handed brutal reality check"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester United&#8217;s work in the transfer market is not complete if they want to compete at the very top, and they may need to improve upon Benjamin Sesko<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Benjamin Sesko\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_GettyImages-2266620976.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Benjamin Sesko has not impressed Michael Owen\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Benjamin Sesko has not impressed Michael Owen(Image: Lewis Storey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Benjamin Sesko is not the answer up front for Manchester United, and the club will need to go back into the transfer market to compete at the top, according to former forward Michael Owen. The striker believes Sesko can score important goals for United, but is not convinced that he can be relied upon in a title challenge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">United signed Sesko as they replenished their frontline for Ruben Amorim in the summer, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/not-easy-manchester-united-could-32427462\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">arriving for \u00a374million<\/a> in addition to figures such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. The 22-year-old scored just two <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/premier-league\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Premier League<\/a> goals under the Portuguese coach but has been in inspired form since Michael Carrick took to the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/old-trafford\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Old Trafford<\/a> hotseat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sesko has bagged seven goals in 10 games since the turn of the year, though he has<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/michael-carricks-controversial-manchester-united-33634932\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\"> predominantly still operated from the bench<\/a>. The youngster, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/man-united-injury-news-dorgu-33650271\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">currently managing an injury<\/a>, appears to be <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/benjamin-sesko-names-man-united-33420969\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">finding his feet in England<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Get MEN Premium now for just \u00a31 <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/subscribe\/\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">HERE<\/a> \u2013 or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Hi2ASkCoTnoFutCiQJtPlp\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">HERE<\/a>. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ManUtdMEN\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">HERE<\/a> and don&#8217;t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?utm_source=newslettersignupheader\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Owen, the official UK ambassador for Casino.org, a comparison website highlighting the best online casinos for UK players, is not convinced that he alone can guide United to success. The pundit does believe Carrick has done a good job in unleashing his talents, however.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Listen, let&#8217;s quantify this, to me, he&#8217;s not the answer long term. He&#8217;s not like a <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/manchester-united-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Manchester United<\/a> centre forward forever and ever,&#8221; Owen told Manchester Evening News.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I think he&#8217;s an expensive player that can get better and can be nice member of their squad. If Manchester United are playing in the biggest game of the season tomorrow, I don&#8217;t think he starts and if Manchester United want to get back to where they feel they belong and challenge for the title, I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s the forward that you go into the season with all your hopes pinned on.<\/p>\n<p>England&#8217;s 2026 World Cup kits<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/affiliates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774328591_658_0_Untitled-2jpeg.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Various Prices<\/p>\n<p>England Official Store<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/england-fa-shop.sjv.io\/c\/344386\/852317\/11901?subId1=Regionals-football.london&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.englandstore.com%2Fen%2Fengland-national-team-football-kits-three-lions%2Ft-25619315%2Bd-9072656104%2Bc-340607%2Bz-9-3856279017\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Buy Now on England Official Store<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer&#8217;s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Yes, he&#8217;s doing better. Yes, fantastic, it&#8217;s great to see because it&#8217;s not nice to see anybody struggling. I think there&#8217;s an upgrade in there, somewhere along the line, in the next year or two or whatever, whenever somebody becomes available.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s great that he&#8217;s doing well, it&#8217;s great that he can be an influence on the team and the squad and score important goals. I&#8217;m not saying, &#8216;oh yeah, everything&#8217;s great now and he&#8217;s now going to shoot them to the league title&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;He&#8217;s improved him, he&#8217;s gotten confident again, he&#8217;s now an asset to the team, all of a sudden, but there&#8217;s still a long way to go&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sesko recently <a aria-label=\"pulled out of international duty for SloveniaLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/mbeumo-sesko-international-duty-withdraw-33643054\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">pulled out of international duty for Slovenia<\/a> this month as he seeks to manage fitness concerns. Cameroon&#8217;s Bryan Mbeumo also withdrew from his national team&#8217;s camp, but both are expected to be fit for Leeds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former RB Leipzig star Sesko has been dealing with a fitness issue with United in recent weeks and was dropped to the bench for the games against Aston Villa and Bournemouth. He will now miss Slovenia&#8217;s games against Hungary and Montenegro to try and make sure he fully recovers from his minor issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With United not in action the weekend after the international break, Mbeumo and Sesko have three weeks to return to fitness to face Leeds in the <a aria-label=\"Premier LeagueLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/premier-league\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Premier League<\/a> on Monday, April 13.<\/p>\n<p>Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Manchester United&#8217;s work in the transfer market is not complete if they want to compete at the very&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":494199,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3645,59,1441,1465,32977,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-494198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-benjamin-sesko","tag-gb","tag-manchester-united-fc","tag-manchester-united-transfer-news","tag-michael-owen","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/494198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=494198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/494198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/494199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=494198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=494198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=494198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}