Is Benjamin Sesco just another Rasmus Hjølund, or could he be Manchester United’s starting nine for years to come? That much remains to be determined.
There are certainly similarities to Høylund’s first season at Old Trafford, with the Dane, currently on loan at Napoli, enduring a slow start after an initial disruption due to a back injury and waiting until Boxing Day to score his first Premier League goal.
After scoring a prolific number of goals during the winter, scoring in six consecutive games, the former Atalanta man finished the 2023/24 season with 10 league goals and was the top scorer in all competitions.
In Sesco’s case, after a sluggish start hit by injuries, he has made an excellent start to the new year, securing his place at the top of United’s league and all competition goalscoring list with eight goals already in 2026.
Hoylund vs Sesco – first PL season | ||
|---|---|---|
Hoylund | Statistics (*per game) | Sesco |
30(25) | Game (start) | 26(13) |
10 | the goal | 9 |
217 | minutes per goal | 148 |
26% | goal conversion | 17% |
13 | missed a big opportunity | 11 |
2 | assist | 1 |
0.9 | Key pass* | 0.3 |
77% | Pass accuracy* | 69% |
38% | Total Win Duels* | 39% |
22.8 | touch* | 18.1 |
6.6 | Ball lost* | 6.1 |
However, it remains to be seen whether the Slovenian can build on this recent momentum, although signing a new striker could be on the cards.
Latest updates on Manchester United’s striker search
After spending £74m last summer to sign a third young centre-forward in succession for Sesco, there is a sense that a more experienced marksman is needed ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Joshua Zirkzee has scored just two league goals all season, but with his likely return and European football likely back on the agenda, United need more firepower at the top end of the pitch.
Reports earlier this week suggested United were pursuing a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-style short-term move for Robert Lewandowski, with the Polish hero set to have a contract with Barcelona set to expire this summer.
Elsewhere, recent reports suggest that INEOS are already in talks to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Gonzalo Ramos.
The new talks come as United look to fend off rival interest in Bruno Fernandes’ Portugal team-mate, with Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur among others in the mix.
As for price, it has not been revealed how much his Old Trafford deal will cost, but the 24-year-old previously moved to Paris from Benfica in 2023 in a £70m deal.
Why Ramos is an upgrade over Sesco
Sesco has shown so much promise of late that there will be a sense that spending big on another No. 9 will only harm his progress going forward.
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However, as the aforementioned Hoylund admitted, the 22-year-old can’t do it alone, and the fact that he’s not a consistent starter shows there’s still room for improvement.
In recent years, United have either bought a seasoned veteran like Ibrahimovic or a young up-and-comer, but Ramos could end up being something of a happy middle man.
Like Sesco, he is not necessarily guaranteed a starting spot in Luis Enrique’s fluid frontline at the Parc des Princes, but when the Portuguese comes on he usually takes his chances.
In fact, his tally of 12 goals in all competitions so far in 2025/26 is more than all players who have returned to Old Trafford, including Sesco, and is a solid record considering the in-demand forward has started 12 games during this period.
Meanwhile, the clinical marksman started 18 games last term and scored 19 goals across all fronts, despite the first half of the season being suspended due to an ankle injury.
Throughout his nearly three-year stay in Ligue 1, Ramos has now scored 45 goals in 125 games, after scoring 41 goals in just 106 games back in Lisbon.
According to Fernandes, there is a reason why he is recognized as “one of the best strikers in the world”, while also boasting the benefit of his creative influence, having created seven “big chances” in the league since the start of the 2024/25 season.
For comparison, in the same period in the Bundesliga and Premier League, the towering Sesco has created just five “big chances”.
Ramos may not be truly prolific, but he’s already featured at one of Europe’s elite clubs, scoring 10 goals in just 24 games for his country and reaching Champions League glory.
Sesco may overtake him in the future, but if United are looking for an immediate upgrade, Ramos could very well be the man.
Manchester United hold initial talks to sign new Robin van Persie this summer
Manchester United could secure a controversial signing this summer to bring in new players.
