Ruben Amorim urged to block £30m transfer and hold crunch talks after Benjamin Sesko deal

Benjamin Sesko arrived at Manchester United for a medical on Friday as Ruben Amorim looks to secure the No. 9 he has sought all summer, raising questions over Rasmus Hojlund’s future

Dimitar Berbatov believes Benjamin Sesko’s arrival at Manchester United provides the competition Ruben Amorim should desire with Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker endured a lacklustre season with the Red Devils last term, scoring just four Premier League goals.

As a result, Ruben Amorim has wasted very little time in bolstering his front line this summer, securing the services of Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a £62.5million move, and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a package worth up to £71m. However, it now appears as though United will see RB Leipzig sensation Sesko also join the ranks at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old has been a highly sought-after prospect this summer as a result of impressing in the Bundesliga, with the Red Devils and Newcastle United embroiled in a tug-of-war for his signature. And it now appears as though United have walked away victorious in their pursuit, with Sesko landing in the UK for a medical on Friday after a deal totalling £73.7m was agreed.

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And as a result, Hojlund will now have stiff competition for his place. It’s something that Berbatov, who scored 56 goals and provided 27 assists during his time under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2008 and 2012, believes may allow the youngster to flourish if he adopts the right mentality.

Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football about what the arrival of Sesko means, the LiveScore and LiveScore Bet European Brand Ambassador said: “I am excited with him going to United, but at the same time I am a bit cautious because [Joshua] Zirkzee and Hojlund were performing great in their previous clubs.

“I watched how they moved, how they bullied defenders, how they scored goals, but then going to the Premier League, they found it difficult to adjust. And the stats speak for themselves, right? Three goals, four goals, for a striker you are going to be disappointed with yourself.

“So it’s not easy, and is it the speed? Is it the new team? Is it the new environment? Is it most of the time the expectation people put on you because when you are number nine of United, you need to score goals, you need to perform, this is your job, this is your job description.

“Of course, there is so much more to being number nine. Dropping down deep, getting the ball, then releasing your team-mates. Running of course, defending when you need to defend, release the spaces for the other team-mates. It’s a lot more to [being a] number nine these days, but ultimately it’s about the goals you score.

“It was difficult campaign for them and it’s a difficult period that they are going through, and now with another striker coming in, of course the competition is going to be high. When you buy a striker now you start to think, ‘Well am I going to play? Is my place in United? Am I still belonging here? Do I need to start looking for a club?’

“Or maybe then you start thinking, ‘Alright, I like the competition. Now I’m going to show you. Now I’m going to fight for my place. Now I’m going to bring the fire.’

“So it’s a two-way scenario. You choose the one I said or the other. So let’s see what they are going to bring to the table as well.” Berbatov also explained that Amorim must make Hojlund feel wanted and valued should he hope to get the best out of him in the future, and that competition could turn out to be positive for the youngster.

He added: “You always want the competition, but at the same time, as a striker, because we think we’re special, you need to feel welcome and wanted in the team, by the coach, by everybody.

“Then your motivation is going to be higher and your self-esteem is going to be higher. It’s a lot of factors. It’s not easy, but it’s all in the head.”

For that to happen, Amorim would need to block any incoming transfer interest for Hojlund as the summer transfer window starts to draw to a close. At present, United are willing to let Hojlund part ways with Old Trafford for around £30m, despite the striker insisting that he wants to stay and fight for his place.

With Hojlund already on Berbatov’s way of thinking, it’s up to Amorim to change the board’s stance on the player to see if healthy competition truly allows him to flourish in a fresh season. However, it now appears AC Milan are set to approach the Red Devils to take him to the San Siro on loan for the new season.

A change of scenery could also, of course, help benefit Hojlund as he looks to find his footing again, especially since he has previously excelled in Serie A. The youngster scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for Atalanta before United signed him in a £72m deal back in 2023, and a temporary move to Milan could allow him to develop his game and return stronger than before next year.

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