Who is Benjamin Sesko? The 'Next Haaland' linked with Man Utd

 

Erling Haaland may have only turned 22 earlier this month, but that strikers have been dubbed 'the next Haaland' speaks volumes of the Norwegian's talent. After really breaking onto the scene with Salzburg, the striker has continued to shine, earning a move to Borussia Dortmund in the process before this summer joining Manchester City. 

 

For a team that scored 99 league goals last season, the Premier League champions have become a far scarier propostion. Six months before Haaland departed Salzburg for Borussia Dortmund, the Austrian side secured the services of Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian had to wait for his chance to secure his spot for Salzburg having spent two seasons on loan at FC Liefering, and even then Sesko struggled for regular minutes. 

 

As such, Sesko scored just five goals across 24 appearances, largely playing second fiddle to Karim Adeyemi and Noah Okafor, but the former's move to Borussia Dortmund means the teenager has been handed the chance to consolidate a starting spot. Sesko took the opportunity with both hands as he netted the opener in Salzburg's opening day 3-0 win over Austria Wien last week. 

 

How long he'll remain in Austria, though, it remains to be seen. Sesko has Premier League suitors and deservedly so, with Tottenham, Liverpool and most recently Manchester United courting a striker who has been labelled 'The Next Erling Haaland'. 

 

The most striking early impression Sesko gives is his size. Standing at 6'4", Sesko towers over opponents, and he uses his powerful build to get the better of defenders. And like Haaland, despite his stature, the teenager has ample pace to either drive past opponents or time his runs to perfection in his quest for goal. This can be to either capitalise on parried shots on goal or if he does hang off the shoulder of the last defender, to beat the offside trap. 

 

Capable of finishing well with either his right or left foot, the two-footedness to his game means he can at times prove difficult to read. For any striker, this asset is key, let alone one who is breaking onto the scene. This quality has helped raise Sesko's profile considerably and when you take into account only eight players scored in excess of five goals with their right foot and their left foot in Europe's top five leagues last season, it's a desired attribute in the modern game. 

 

Sesko is also a solid aerial threat inside the opposition area, so seems the archetypal battering ram of a frontman. However, there is more to Sesko's game than putting than simply putting the ball in the back of the net. This is the primary task for a frontman, but the youngster is able to find pockets of space between the defence and midfield that enables him to link up play in attack. He can then use his strength to hold off pressure from markers and allow those in support to make runs in behind, maximising the space he has worked in the process. 

 

 

As expected, interest in Sesko is risen tremendously in recent months, with United among those keenest on the Slovenia international. As question marks over Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Old Trafford continue to linger, United have been linked with a number of strikers this summer. Antony was one of those on Erik ten Hag's wishlist, but Ajax's high asking price has seen their interest in the Brazilian cool. 

 

Rather, it seems Ten Hag's side are now eyeing up a specific type of forward in order to succeed Ronaldo should he indeed depart this summer, and one that performed in a similar style as Sebastien Haller for Ajax last season. VfB Stuttgart's Sasa Kalajdzic is a rumoured target for United, the Austrian, like Sesko, an imposing frontman. Kalajdzic may be the cheaper of the two, but it's arguable that Sesko has the higher ceiling and while Salzburg are keen to retain his services with a view to selling next summer, the Austrian side are aware that a big enough bid would allow them to invest accordingly elsewhere. 

 

Patson Daka, Haaland and Adeyemi are among those who established themselves at Salzburg before making a high profile move across Europe and it may be that Sesko is the next striker off the Austrian's conveyor belt to make the step up to one of the top five leagues on the continent. Given his standing and style of play, Sesko seems the perfect striker to adjust seamlessly to the Premier League and if United can get this deal done, then he could prove the perfect frontman to succeed Ronaldo at Old Trafford next season.

Who is Benjamin Sesko? The 'Next Haaland' linked with Man Utd