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Topics: Manchester United, Transfer News, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson, Football, Ollie Watkins
Luke Davies
Topics: Manchester United, Transfer News, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson, Football, Ollie Watkins
Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant has voiced his concerns about Manchester United signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
Sesko, 22, has been the subject of interest from both Newcastle and Manchester United in recent days, with both Premier League clubs tabling bids for the Slovenian forward.
On August 4, The Guardian reported that the Magpies had tabled a second offer worth £69.7m, which with add-ons, could rise to £75m.
Then, on August 5, Man United came in with a bid of their own which included a guaranteed £65.2m, rising to a possible £73.8m.
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Reports from German outlet BILD have even claimed that the RB Leipzig forward has told both clubs that he wants to join them.
The Athletic issued an update on the situation on August 6, explaining how Man United are “closing in” on a deal for the 22-year-old despite Newcastle seemingly being willing to pay a higher fee and provide Champions League football.
And despite the excitement coming from some sections of the Red Devils’ fanbase, not everyone is convinced, despite the forward registering 21 goals in all competitions last term.
Ex-United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, who was assistant to Ferguson between 2008 and 2013, did not hold back with his take on the proposed deal for Sesko during an interview with Poker Strategy.com.
“Manchester United’s bid for Benjamin Sesko is basically exactly what they did with Rasmus Hojlund,” Meulentseen said.
“If he scores in the first three or four games and hits the ground running, then he could be the answer for the club, but there’s a chance that won’t happen.
“If you look at Hojlund, he joined Atalanta and performed well alongside the rest of the team and then joined United. The same can be said for Sesko – the Bundesliga is a very different league to the Premier League, so he’ll need to adapt.
"Has Sesko got potential? 100%, but he’s still young and developing, and he isn’t the finished article.”
He added: “I look at someone like Ollie Watkins who may be available,” he said. “He’s a hard-working player with similar features to Sesko, except that he already has Premier League experience, which is priceless. I think Sesko would probably cost more than Watkins, too.
“Why doesn’t the club bring in Watkins and allow the coaches to work closely with Hojlund to allow him to develop? It’s a waste of an investment otherwise – they paid close to £80m for him and they’re in danger of selling him for less than half of that unless he develops.”