The signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will no-doubt offer a boost to the worst Manchester United squad in Premier League history, but there remains one gaping hole in Ruben Amorim’s side – a striker.
It’s a shocking state of affairs given, you may forget, United have spent north of £100million on frontmen in the last two summer windows.
The £72m they splashed out on a then-promising Rasmus Hojlund looks like daylight robbery two years on and Joshua Zirkzee, who United signed as a No 9 for £36m last summer, has had to be reinvented into an attacking midfielder. The pair scored seven Premier League goals between them last season in 64 appearances.
Such statistics don’t hold a candle to those racked up by United strikers of years gone by – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo to name a few.
So the time has now come for United to find the right man to lead their line, and Ruben Amorim knows it.
After missing out on prime targets Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres, the news broke on Tuesday that David Wilcox, Omar Berrada and Amorim have at last settled on two top targets, Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko.
Manchester United are in the market for a new striker to replace the struggling Rasmus Hojlund
It is understood that United have narrowed their shortlist to Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins
United believe a bid of £45m would be enough to prize Watkins away from Aston Villa, while RB Leipzig’s Slovenian forward is seen as a more expensive option at £60m.
The Red Devils – currently on a pre-season tour of the US – are said to be in contact with both players’ camps but haven’t chosen which target to prioritise yet.
So, as United edge closer to making their decision, how do Watkins and Sesko’s SofaScore statistics compare to current No 9 Rasmus Hojlund?
With 184 top-flight appearances, I don’t think many would argue that Premier League-proven Watkins at the age of 29 isn’t the safest option. He’s netted an impressive 75 goals in that time and provided 34 assists.
In comparison, Sesko, still just 22, has bagged 27 goals and offered seven assists in his 64 appearances in Europe’s top-five leagues, while Hojlund has scored 23 in 94 appearances, providing just four assists.
Stats considered, Watkins – a selfless runner who’s particularly strong in the air – is easily the most creative option.
But who of the three is the most prolific is an entirely different question, with 6ft 5in Sesko boasting a far superior goal-per-minute ratio than his two rivals in this case.
The Slovenian, who has already racked up 41 appearances for his national team, fires home every 145 minutes, which eclipses Watkins with a ratio of a goal every 203 minutes and Hojlund every 261.
How the three strikers compare
Top-five European Leagues
Ollie Watkins
Rasmus Hojlund
Benjamin Sesko
Games played
184
94
64
Games started
174
68
47
Minutes played
15,249
6,014
3,927
Goals
75
23
27
Assists
34
4
7
Mins/ goal
203
261
145
Mins/ goal or assist
140
223
116
Total shots
451
124
115
Shots per 90
2.7
1.9
2.6
Shots on target
211
62
56
Shots on target per 90
1.2
0.9
1.3
Touches in the opp’ box
1014
327
197
Touches in the opp’ box per 90
6.0
4.9
4.5
Shot conversion rate
16.6%
18.6%
23.5%
Meanwhile, Sesko – who still just 22 – has bagged 27 goals and offered seven assists in his 64 appearances in Europe’s top-five leagues, making him a highly attractive forward target
Hojlund had a torrid 2024/25 season at Old Trafford, netting just four Premier League goals
And Sesko too possesses a far superior shot conversation rate of 23.5 per cent, exceeding Watkins’ 16.6 per cent rate which is even below that of United’s current Danish striker, who scores 18.6 per cent of his efforts on goal.
Such stats make for worrying reading for Watkins, who – given United’s well-detailed struggles to create chances – will need to be clinical in order to be a success at Old Trafford.
He does see more action in and around the 18-yard box than his two competitors nevertheless, with the bustling forward – who learned his trade at Exeter City – enjoying six touches per 90 minutes in the opposition box. Hojlund and Sesko meanwhile average 4.9 and 4.5, respectively.
While, as with any big-money signing, the stats reveal that both Watkins and Sesko come with their risks, it’s fairly evident that they both present an upgrade on Hojlund, who has looked devoid of confidence in recent months.
Ruben Amorim will want a new striker in time for the start of the new Premier League campaign
Watkins, providing he doesn’t buckle under the pressure of the famous shirt, has a proven track record of scoring goals in the top flight and would no-doubt earn the adulation of United fans with his work rate.
While the more inexperienced Sesko comes as perhaps a more exciting option, though whether he can emulate his Bundesliga success in the Premier League remains to be seen.
United must make a decision either way, and fast, with their opening league fixture against Arsenal now a little over two weeks away.
And with Viktor Gyokeres, once United’s prime target up front, leading the Gunners’ line, the Red Devils will need someone to match.
