- Nicky Butt wants a new number nine at Manchester United
- Benjamin Sesko hasn’t won him over
- The Reds were linked with his preferred frontman
Nicky Butt thinks Manchester United should be in the market for a new number nine this summer because Benjamin Sesko is ‘not the complete centre-forward.’ The Slovenian joined the club from RB Leipzig last August in a £73.7m deal.
Sesko started the season unconvincingly but has been in superb form since the turn of the year. He has bagged nine goals in 26 league outings, becoming somewhat of a super sub.
The 22-year-old has come to the fore with crucial winners, including in a 3-2 win over Fulham and a 1-0 victory against Everton. But there are some, including Butt, who feel he isn’t the answer when it comes to leading the line for the Reds in the long run.
Nicky Butt Wants Osimhen
Sesko was one of several strikers on United’s shortlist last summer, including Viktor Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal from Sporting CP. There were claims that Victor Osimhen was of interest but the finances involved in a possible deal put the higher-ups off the Nigerian.
Butt has urged the club to revive their interest in Osimhen this summer and cast doubts over Sesko. He told Metro:
“I don’t think (Sesko) can carry the club up front on his own, they’ll need another number nine. ‘He’s shown he’s got massive potential, great movement, he works his socks off. He can score a goal and you can see he’s good in the air but he’s not the complete centre-forward for United at that level. He can potentially get there.”
Sesko looks set to play Champions League football with United next season. His side sit third in the Premier League, seven points above sixth-placed Chelsea with seven games remaining.
Butt alluded to this:
“When you go into the Champions League, it’s just a different kettle of fish. The tempo is totally different, the pressure on it is totally different. You’ve then got to come back and perform in the league, maybe two days later.”
The club’s legendary former midfielder suggested Osimhen is the answer:
“They’re going to have to go out and buy a top, top player. I think he’d [Osimhen] be the one. You’d like to think that players from Turkish sides are gettable. I think he’s powerful, quick, he can run in behind, he’s strong, has got a good touch, can score different types of goals, he’s good in the air.”
Osimhen joined Turkish giants Galatasaray from Napoli last summer in a Turkish record £64.8m deal. He has been in prolific form at RAMS Park, posting 19 goals in 29 games across competitions.
Wages Are The Problem
Butt might think that players from the Turkish Super Lig are “gettable” but he doesn’t take into consideration how much Osimhen is earning. The Nigerian is reportedly on a four-year contract and earning a net annual salary of €15m (£13m), with an additional €1m (£870,000) in loyalty bonuses and €5m (£4.4m) in image rights per season, per ESPN.
The 27-year-old is thought to earn around £311,000 per week at Galatasaray, per Capology. The player’s wage demands were the main reason United didn’t pursue.
Sesko might not be reaching goalscoring numbers that have him battling it out for the Golden Boot. But it’s his first season at Old Trafford, and talk of signing a new starting number nine seems a bit far-fetched.
Michael Owen is another who has doubts over the Slovenian being the future talisman up top. He exclusively told Read Man Utd that he wants to see more to understand what the young frontman is ‘missing.’
