-
News
- 44 minutes ago
How Man Utd will line up with Benjamin Sesko
Analysis
Man Utd are on the verge of signing their new striker.
Benjamin Sesko is going to be Man Utd's new no. 9 as a deal has been agreed for €76.5 million with another €8.5 million in add-ons, per David Ornstein.
Newcastle United were also after the Slovenian striker and had a bid worth up to €90 million accepted, but Sesko preferred to wait for Man Utd and, now the Red Devils have had their bid accepted, all that remains is for him to complete his medical.
Current ETV
Benjamin Sesko
F (C)
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko
F (C)
RB Leipzig
ETV Range
€62.7M - €76.6M
This adds a tremendous skill-set to the Man Utd attack; a line-leader with incredible potential but also a fair few questions about him as well.
Chief among those questions is just how could Man Utd line-up with Benjamin Sesko in the team? What variations on a theme does he grant Ruben Amorim? As always, FootballTransfers has had a look...
The Standard
Ruben Amorim's teams all play 3-4-2-1 as a base formation (with slight variations) so his standard line-up for Man Utd will be in that shape and Sesko fits into it seamlessly.
The Slovenian actually played in basically the same system all his time at RB Leipzig, so shouldn't have any problems adapting to the tactical demands of the system at all (the physical demands of the Premier League, however, are another matter entirely).
Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez will flank Matthijs de Ligt and offer United the ball progression they sorely lack, carrying with Yoro and passing with Martinez.
Having the Argentine back will be a huge boost and take pressure off midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo to advance the ball from deep, allowing them to attack more and provide Sesko with runners to engage with.
Patrick Dorgu and Amad are the obvious choices as wide-men and both benefit Sesko tremendously. Dorgu's runs and crosses were largely wasted by United's forwards last season but Sesko's size and speed mean he has greater potential to convert them.
STATS
Benjamin Sesko
F (C)
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko
F (C)
RB Leipzig
Meanwhile Amad's dribbling is going to create so much havoc with opponents, and his dovetailing with Bryan Mbeumo in the 10 spot is going to make United's right flank devastating, that spaces that will open up for Sesko to attack.
Mbeumo's crosses are also going to be music to Sesko's 6'5 ears. The Slovenian is super dominant in the air so will thrive off any inswinging launches from Mbeumo.
Cunha's relationship with Sesko should be very fluid. Two superb ball-carriers with pace and thrust, these should be Man Utd's two biggest goal threats and the ease with which they figure each other out is going to decide how quickly Man Utd hit the ground running.
Ideally they'd have signed Sesko sooner to give him more time in pre-season with Cunha, because the Brazilian has looked somewhat lost during pre-season without a no. 9 to combine with. But if the Brazilian finds his form, his goalscoring power should benefit Sesko immensely.
Big Lads
Obviously Man Utd need to be able to change it up, but the basic framework of Ruben Amorim's system will remain unchanged.
However, moving from a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-4-1-2 isn't that much of a shift in base defensive structure and would allow for the Red Devil's to mix things up in attack.
Here is where they can use Sesko's all-around skill-set to play him up-front alongside Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch striker had a mixed bag of a first season but ultimately turned out to be a decent forward option, if not the goalscorer United needed him to be.
Zirkzee can hold the ball up superbly and link play nicely. Using him as a battering ram to open channels and create space for Sesko to penetrate into would potentially be deadly.
Cunha hovering behind them as a 10, able to run between the strikers or to either side of them and Mbeumo on the right sending those crosses into the box for the 6'5 Sesko to attack... when United want to go more direct, getting the Big Lads out there is now a viable option (which is why Ayden Heaven has replaced for tiny Martinez, for the vibes).
Shut 'Em Down
One of Man Utd's many problems last season was their inability to hold a lead. Part of this was down to their goalkeeping which they haven't addressed, but it was also due to their inability to maintain possession while also offering threat up-front.
So, another slight tweak of shape into a 3-1-4-2, with Casemiro coming in to play strictly holding midfield behind Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. The Brazilian has a ferocious winning mentality and experience, but can't cover any ground anymore due to his age, but this system puts enough bodies around him to get it done.
Sesko's ability to make direct runs behind defences at true speed is what will make this system really pop. While Matheus Cunha will be able to drop down and link with Bruno Fernandes, Sesko will consistently take the top off opposing defences with his runs.
Sesko's movement will provide Lisandro Martinez, Bruno and Cunha so many opportunities to drive the ball into space and put the Slovenian through into space where he will have the chance to kill teams off (whether he takes those chances remains to be seen).
Football transfer news headlines today
DONE DEALS: Every official completed transfer around Europe today
Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Baleba ‘100% CONFIRMED’, Barcola NEXT at Liverpool, Rodrygo INTEREST
'Anything can happen' - Maresca drops Chelsea transfer hint ahead of €92m deal
CONFIRMED: How Alexander Isak really feels about Newcastle exile
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
