Louis Saha says he expects Benjamin Sesko to ‘struggle’ at Manchester United until the club manage to bring in the type of central midfielder they were targeting this summer.
United made signing a centre-forward a priority ahead of the transfer window on the back of a poor campaign for both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who managed a combined total of just seven league goals last term.
A number of high-profile strikers were linked with moves to Old Trafford, including Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres, who would go on to join Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.
But as the transfer deadline came into view, the Red Devils stepped up their pursuit of Sesko and a £74million agreement was reached with RB Leipzig for the highly rated 22-year-old.
Given the size of the fee, there are weighty expectations on Sesko to become the focal point of Ruben Amorim’s attack and score the goals that United so badly lacked last season.
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It has been a steady introduction for Sesko in English football, though, with the Slovenia international still yet to start in the Premier League after three games.
Sesko’s one and only start to date ended disastrously as United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two outfit Grimsby Town.
‘I think he’s capable if the manager managed to get that link between midfield and striker,’ ex-United attacker Saha told The Athletic when reflecting on Sesko’s slow start.
‘Unfortunately we didn’t get the midfielder we wanted. So we’re still very weak in that department. And this is why I think Sesko will struggle maybe a little bit until we get that sorted.
‘He’s got the quality because he’s tall, he’s going to score goals in the air, and he’s very technical as well. All his movement is is right up there, so I’m very confident he’s going to get chances and he’s going to score.
‘But to get us where we want, I don’t think that’s going to be on him. Those two playmakers, [Matheus] Cunha and [Bryan) Mbeumo, will have to kick on very soon or you will see Sesko struggling as well.’
Hojlund left Old Trafford to complete a season-long loan move to Serie A champions Napoli on deadline day having struggled with the responsibility of being United’s main man.
And with United bringing in another relatively inexperienced striker in Sesko to replace Hojlund, Saha fears his former club may have made the same mistake again.
He added: ‘Physically he’s not going to have a huge amount of things to do.
‘Tactically, I think is going to be the challenge because the team is in transition. The manager has to figure out how to play.
‘The problems identified over the last three or four years is having the responsibility as a number nine or as a forward when you’re young.
You’re still learning, you’re making mistakes. You don’t how to connect with the players as much as maybe Bruno Fernandes, as much as [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic before, or players like Andy Cole.
‘There was a combination at Manchester United to have a young player with a lot of talents, who’s going to disrupt, who’s going to actually bring in unpredictability, but at the same time, you have experience where it’s very valuable and you’re going to actually pass on the information.
‘This is not the case in the last three or four years. So it’s been a really big mistake and I think they’ve done it again.’
Sesko is currently away on international duty with the Slovenia national team ahead of the side’s World Cup qualifying matches against Sweden and Switzerland.
Speaking to Ekipa ahead of the double-header, Sesko opened up about the challenges he has faced since swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League.
‘The level of the matches is certainly much higher and the players and team-mates are also at a higher level,’ he explained.
‘After all, English football is at the highest level in the world of football.
‘But I am very much looking forward to the upcoming period, also because I am getting better and faster in every training session, and I am also progressing in my football mentality every day.
‘I wanted to move to England and, fortunately, my wish came true.’
Amorim’s men return to action with a blockbuster clash away to bitter rivals Manchester City after the international break and Sesko is fully aware of the significance of the local derby.
‘It is an incredibly big match coming up,’ he added.
‘There will simply be some pressure on both sides to just win this match.
‘There’s still quite a bit to go until this match, but we’re definitely looking forward to a top match.’
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