After scoring just 44 times in the Premier League last season, Manchester United desperately needed attacking reinforcements during the summer window, with the hierarchy splashing upwards of £200m on new additions.
Benjamin Sesko was one of the players brought in with such funds, costing a staggering £74m from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig after scoring 21 times in all competitions last campaign.
However, he’s only made one start for Ruben Amorim, unable to nail down a starting role as of yet after his big-money transfer in the latter stages of the window.
The Slovenian international only registered a total of 19 touches in his 80-minute showing at the Etihad last weekend, failing to hold up the play and only registering a 54% pass completion rate.
There’s no denying that the 22-year-old will need time to settle into the role, but one player he’s come in to replace has already hit the ground running after being moved on by the board.
Why United may regret selling Hojlund
Two years ago, United fans found themselves in a similar position, after the hierarchy completed a £72m deal to land Rasmus Hojlund from Italian outfit, Atalanta.
The Dane’s arrival generated huge excitement within the fanbase, with the youngster seen as an immediate and long-term fix for the centre-forward position.
After scoring 16 times in his debut campaign, the signs looked positive for the 22-year-old, but 2024/25 was a year to forget for the player in his quest for success.
He only netted four league goals last campaign, even going 21 games without a goal at one stage, subsequently being loaned out to Napoli for the 2025/26 season.
His temporary deal has an obligation to buy next summer if Antonio Conte’s side qualify for the Champions League at the end of the current campaign – something which should happen given their title triumph in May.
Hojlund has only featured for 73 minutes since making the move to Naples, but has already hit the ground running – scoring on his debut in the 3-1 victory over Fiorentina.
However, despite his immediate impact away from Old Trafford, one other former player has also thrived since departing – with the decision to offload him now looking as though it was a questionable one.
The former United striker who’s an upgrade on Sesko
United’s lack of a clinical goalscorer over the last couple of seasons has massively held them back from matching the expectations placed upon them by the fanbase.
The Red Devils didn’t have a single player who reached double figures in league goals last campaign – highlighting the need to add reinforcements during the off-season.
Sesko was the man they chose to lead the line, but given his lack of immediate impact, it has led to questions being asked by the fanbase about his big-money arrival.
He will need time to settle into English football, but Amorim may not have such luxuries, with the 40-year-old under huge pressure after only winning one of their first four league outings in 2025/26.
An experienced option could well have handed the manager just that, with former Red Devil star Danny Welbeck arguably being able to provide just that, given his form away from Old Trafford in recent times.
The 34-year-old spent seven years at the Theatre of Dreams between 2007 and 2014, racking up 142 appearances for the first-team and finding the back of the net on 29 occasions.
The 2011/12 campaign was his best for the club, scoring 12 times across all competitions, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep hold of his first-team squad – subsequently leaving for Arsenal in a £16m deal two years later.
Fast-forward to the present day, and Welbeck is now plying his trade for Brighton & Hove Albion, racking up over 150 appearances for the Seagulls over a five-year period on the coast.
Last campaign was his best-ever in the Premier League, netting ten goals and reaching double figures for the first time as Fabian Hurzeler’s side ended the year in 8th place.
His underlying stats were also just as impressive, massively outperforming new big-money addition, Sesko, in countless key areas – highlighting why he’d be a better option at present.
Welbeck, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Ryan Adsett, posted a better goal per shot on target rate (0.4), showcasing that he possesses a clinical edge over Sesko in the final third.
Games played
30
33
Goals scored
10
13
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.3
Pass accuracy
85%
67%
Key passes made
1.1
0.7
Shot-creating actions
2.3
1.9
Fouls won
1.1
0.7
Progressive passes
2.1
1.7
However, alongside his impressive shooting stats, the Englishman also achieved a better pass completion rate (85%), whilst registering more key passes per 90 – offering a better hold-up option, something which the new addition has struggled with to date.
He also drew more fouls from the opposition, whilst creating more shot-creating actions (2.3), undoubtedly being a better all-round option than the £74m summer addition.
Whilst he may be a 34-year-old, Welbeck has the tools to make an immediate impact back at his boyhood club, given their recent struggles within the final third.
There’s no question Sesko could be a superb talent in the years ahead, but given their current situation, an immediate solution is needed to avoid further failures on the pitch.
