Rio Ferdinand’s wildcard transfer pick for this summer was not something that whetted Ineos’ appetite, which is a major plus for Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko.
Benjamin Sesko signed off on his debut season at Old Trafford in May and the 23-year-old Slovenian had a strong second half to the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
The former RB Leipzig and Salzburg striker enjoyed a stunning run of goalscoring form under Michael Carrick, with Sesko netting seven times in his last 13 club matches.
However, Sesko missed the tail end of Manchester United’s season under Michael Carrick at Old Trafford after the Slovenia international was sidelined due to an injury.
Rio Ferdinand wanted Robert Lewandowski at Man Utd, but thankfully, Ineos saved Benjamin Sesko a real headache
Benjamin Sesko has faced pressure to lead the frontline at the Red Devils and Ineos have been tipped to make a move for another forward option this summer.
Manchester United legend Michael Carrick mainly relied on rotating Sesko with Bryan Mbeumo to lead the frontline, with Joshua Zirkzee a distant third choice last season.
Robert Lewandowski is set to see his Barcelona contract expire at the end of the month and Rio Ferdinand would have opened the door for the 37-year-old at United.
According to Ferdinand, soon-to-be former Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski could have been someone that Sesko could have ‘learned’ from at Old Trafford.
“Lewandowski isn’t a bad shout either if they’re going to get another striker,” he said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast in May.
“If we brought him in, look at the experience he has, the amount of learning that Sesko will do…
“If you believe Sesko is the man for the next five years, the learning he could do behind Lewandowski, who is a wonderful, humble human being. He would teach and show Sesko the way and get him playing.
“That would be a sensible signing, even if the numbers might be crazy in terms of wages. If you’re trying to benefit the squad, he would be a great presence.
“It’s going to be a big and interesting summer to see who Manchester United go for.”
Robert Lewandowski’s transfer decision is a blessing for both Ineos and Benjamin Sesko at Man Utd
Ferdinand’s ‘logic’ for a Man Utd move for Robert Lewandowski might make sense in parts, but ultimately, it would have been a major Achilles’ heel for Sesko at Old Trafford.
Lewandowski would not have settled for a bench-warming role and the need to play an ageing striker would have held back Sesko’s development at Man Utd.
United already dropped a hefty initial £66.3m to bring the former RB Leipzig and Salzburg forward to Old Trafford — ahead of Newcastle — last summer.
Carrick needs a striker who is in a similar age bracket as Sesko and can offer a long-term secondary forward option if the Slovenia international were injured.
Lewandowski is now on the verge of signing for MLS outfit Chicago Fire on a free transfer and Ineos correctly swerved the signing of the Polish striker.
It does not take away from the incredible player that the former Bayern Munich striker has been, but Lewandowski feels like a transfer of the ‘old’ Man Utd regime.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/1jpi0BQ