'Not the Right Fit’ – Meulensteen questions Man Utd's £74m Sesko chase as Newcastle push harder

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen says RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko may not be the right choice to strengthen their attacking options this summer.

The Red Devils have been strongly linked with the Slovenian international, but face competition from Newcastle United in the race to secure his services.

The north-east outfit recently increased their initial bid for Sesko, but Leipzig appear to be waiting for other clubs to submit a more lucrative offer.

While Meulensteen is not surprised that United are pondering a move, he has questioned whether the 22-year-old would thrive in the Premier League.

“I’m sure that they want to strengthen that position, but it would make more sense to find somebody who has got a Premier League proven record,” Meulensteen said.

“That is one of the problems when you look abroad and bring in players from different leagues. The Premier League is a different animal altogether, and it shows time and time again.

“Yes, there are a lot of examples that hit the ground running, such as Alexander Isak at Newcastle. He had a great season with them.

“However, look at (Rasmus) Hojlund – he has suffered because of a lack of service. Strikers rely on service, and United have always played with wingers. He hasn’t had that.

“Sesko has a lot of potential and has plenty going for him, but to play in the Premier League and handle the pressure of being at United is not easy.”

Meulensteen urges United to scour the home market

Newcastle have reportedly offered £69.7 million plus add-ons for Sesko, while Man United have submitted a bid worth around £74m including incentives.

They are determined not to get drawn into a bidding war, but will be encouraged by the fact that Sesko is keen for them to start negotiations with Leipzig.

Despite this, the Bundesliga club’s reputation for driving a hard bargain could force the Red Devils to switch their attention elsewhere this summer.

Although proven Premier League strikers seeking transfers are thin on the ground at the moment, United have a handful of options they could consider.

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins is open to moving to Old Trafford, but United may baulk at the idea of paying £40m to sign a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in December.

While Watkins could be a viable target for the club, Meulensteen believes another current Premier League star could be the safest bet.

“Plenty of names are being thrown around, but the one I like is Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta,” Meulensteen added.

“He’s already done well in the Premier League and would not need time to adjust. That’s rarely the case when you bring in young players from overseas.

“Sesko is not the finished product. He is still developing, so it’s uncertain whether he would be successful. That makes him a risky option for United.”

Amorim has a ‘big call’ to make with Onana

With the summer transfer window scheduled to close on September 1, United still have time to fill some key positions in their squad.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana’s future has been the subject of speculation since the end of last season, with the club linked with several potential replacements.

These include Villa goalie Emiliano Martinez and Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who would both expect to be the number one at United.

However, Meulensteen is unsure whether United need to make a change in goal, given that Onana has not been helped by deficiencies in other areas of the team.

“Onana was initially brought in by Erik ten Hag because of his ball-playing qualities,” Meulensteen said.

“I know him well from his time in the Dutch league, but that’s different to English football. Ajax tend to dominate games, but that’s not been the case at United.

“He was never really exposed at Ajax and arrived at Old Trafford on the back of a good season with Inter Milan. He’s had to deal with different threats at United.

“I’m not sure whether the issues in front of Onana will go away next season, so (Ruben) Amorim has a big call to make. Maintaining some stability might be preferable rather than constantly changing.

“I think we’ll see the same kind of performances from Onana if he stays. He’ll show excellent reflexes and make big saves, but will also have some questionable moments.

“That led to United conceding goals last year and may be a problem again this season.”

Having recorded their worst finish in the Premier League era last season, United are desperate to force their way back up the standings this time around.

Although the club has fallen a long way behind rivals Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, Meulensteen insists they can recapture their former glories.

“They should start challenging again at some point,” he said. “I don’t think it will happen overnight, as there are too many things on and off the pitch that are not helping.

“It will be interesting to see how they fare over the next six months. If they don’t start well, the players will be under the same pressure as previously.

“The only way to get rid of it is to win and keep winning. That is the only way United can start closing the gap on the other top clubs.

“There are a lot of things that need to change, but I like the two signings they have made this summer (Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo).”

Rene Muelensteen was speaking to Man Utd News courtesy of PokerStrategy.com.

Article written by michaeljblack .