- Manchester United should be searching for Sesko backup
- Plenty of Premier League experience available
- Young stars looking for a chance at a big club
After two years without Champions League football, Manchester United are set to return to Europe’s elite competition. One of the players who has given them a great chance of making the Champions League is their summer signing, Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenian striker joined the Red Devils from RB Leipzig last summer for £73.7 million. He initially struggled with just two Premier League goals before the turn of the new year, but since Michael Carrick’s arrival, he has scored game-defining goals.
MailSport claim that Joshua Zirkzee’s camp see him staying in England next season, and they don’t believe any forwards will arrive at the club. But with h his diminishing minutes this season, it’s hard to agree.
With that said, Read Man Utd has combined a list of five possible backups to Sesko next season.
Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus
Vlahovic moved to ‘The Old Lady’ from Fiorentina in 2022, but things have never really clicked at one of Italy’s biggest clubs.
His contract ends this summer, which could give United an opportunity to sign him as a free agent. INEOS plans to invest heavily to attract midfielders who can take them to the next level, such as Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson.
Vlahovic has become a bit-part player and will be looking to rebuild his confidence, which he could achieve in Manchester. He’s previously been linked to fellow English clubs Arsenal and Chelsea.
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
The English striker will certainly cost more than the Serbian, but he has continued to showcase his amazing goalscoring ability under Unai Emery.
Watkins moved to Villa in 2020, and after 266 games at the club, he has scored 97 goals, becoming a key part of the Spanish manager’s squad as they have risen through the league and even qualified for the Champions League.
Watkins has been close to joining Arsenal and United in the past. With his league experience and continued scoring record, it doesn’t seem out of the question that the Old Trafford outfit looks to move for him if he’s on the market.
Raul Jimenez – Fulham
If Carrick’s side wanted someone to do a job for a season, before looking to bring in someone more threatening to Sesko’s position, they could look no further than the Mexican forward.
He has had two stints in England at Wolves and Fulham, and at both clubs, he has been lethal in front of goal.
He is a hardworking centre forward, someone who will work hard for whatever badge he’s representing. At 34-years-old, fans might suggest he’s past his best days, but with nine league goals in 31 appearances this season, the veteran striker still knows a thing or two.
Vitor Roque – Palmeiras
The 21-year-old striker has been linked with a move to United for several months now, especially in January when it was believed Zirkzee would be moving back to Italy. At Palmeiras, he has already scored three goals in six games.
He has already played in Europe, playing for Spanish giants Barcelona and on loan at La Liga club Real Betis. He failed to get going at either side, which saw him move back to Brazil in 2025, where he scored 16 league goals for Alviverde.
| Vitor Roque Brasileriao Betano 2025 | Stats |
|---|---|
| Apperances | 33 |
| Goals | 16 |
| xG | 12.82 |
| Assists | 3 |
| xA | 2.11 |
| Shots per game | 1.2 |
| Goal conversion | 20% |
| Key passes per game | 1.1 |
His failure in Europe could have easily knocked him down, but they didn’t as he bounced back immediately. If he is ready to make a return to the continent, United could be his new home.
Mika Biereth – Monaco
At just 23, the Danish forward has had an exciting career, from playing for Arsenal at the youth level to time in France, but one thing he has always done is find the back of the net.
After a series of loans away from Premier League leaders Arsenal, he eventually made a permanent move to Austrian side Sturm Graz. Similar to Sesko, he couldn’t stop scoring in the Austrian Bundesliga and quickly moved to Monaco.
In his first 16 Ligue 1 games, he scored 13 goals and registered two assists. This season has been disappointing, with just two league goals, but like Sesko, he will be looking to rebound, and a move back to England could help him do so.
