- Manchester United signed Benjamin Sesko last summer
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe important in £73m deal
- Slovenian striker has proven his worth
Manchester United fans might be pleasantly surprised to read that Sir Jim Ratcliffe played an important role in bringing Benjamin Sesko to Old Trafford. The Slovenian striker arrived last summer, joining from RB Leipzig in a £73m deal.
Sesko has been an excellent acquisition, proving his doubters wrong since the turn of the year. He’s bagged 11 goals in 17 starts this season, including goals against Liverpool, Fulham and Aston Villa.
The 22-year-old was one of several frontmen on United’s radar last summer as they looked to add more firepower to Ruben Amorim’s frontline. At times, it looked as though the club were prioritising other options, including Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Ratcliffe ‘a Voice For Sesko’
Manchester United battled Newcastle United for Sesko’s signature, seeing off the Magpies when the Slovenian made a move to Old Trafford his preference. The club received the green light from the striker and agreed to pay Leipzig their asking price.
According to Laurie Whitwell, Ratcliffe proved to be a crucial player in the transfer saga. He said on the latest episode of the Talk of the Devils podcast:
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe was a voice for United going for Benjamin Sesko last summer, a striker rather than a midfielder at that moment when they had a certain amount of money to spend. I think he certainly has an idea about how much he would like United to spend on certain areas.”
This is an interesting development because Ratcliffe has previously maintained that he isn’t influencing sporting decisions. The British billionaire has insisted he leaves such calls to those in recruitment, including Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada.
Ratcliffe has been heavily criticised since INEOS took over sporting operations at Old Trafford. His cost-cutting measures were called out throughout last year.
Ratcliffe’s Getting it Right
Ratcliffe is a United fan and clearly wants what’s best for the club and that often means making difficult decisions. But he does deserve to be praised when his INEOS team get it right and his influence in the Sesko deal is a promising sign.
Another enthusiastic suggestion from Whitwell is that he “has an idea how much he would like to spend on certain areas.” Having a solid plan regarding a squad rebuild is important as it allows the transfer chiefs to address the situation with clarity.
During the Glazers’ dismal ownership, we’ve seen plenty of transfer windows where it feels as though United are panicking. Late arrivals, especially loan signings on deadline day have been a concern in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
This summer, a plan is already emerging to strengthen the squad for a return to the Champions League. At least two new midfielders is the priority while the addition of a left winger and a defender is also on the agenda.
