How Man Utd could finally upgrade on Benjamin Sesko in 2027

It’s been 13 years since Manchester United last won the Premier League title. It’s been 13 years too since a player scored 20 top-flight goals in a single season at Old Trafford.

That man was Robin van Persie, although even the Dutchman’s stint in Manchester proved short-lived, setting the tone for the chaos that has followed in the centre-forward department.

Having gone down the short-term, experienced route, signing the likes of Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s been all about youth of late, with Benjamin Sesko following in the footsteps of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund.

Sesko, now up to 14 goals in his first 38 games for the club, has certainly not been a disaster, but United pinning their hopes on the Slovenian alone has already backfired.

Why Man Utd have got it all wrong again with Sesko decision

Speaking after sealing an initial loan move to Napoli a year ago, the aforementioned Hojlund suggested that he could have benefited from some “help” during his time with the Red Devils.

Indeed, the Dane barely had any form of competition amid the injury woes of Anthony Martial in 2023/24, while the uncertainty over Zirkzee’s best role also complicated matters in 2024/25.

Hojlund, signed at the age of just 20, was expected to be the main man from the off, an expectation that no doubt weighed him down, as did the bumper £64m price tag.

It feels like a similar story with regard to Sesko too, the 23-year-old enjoying a fruitful first year at Old Trafford, as Hojlund did, yet having since endured a stuttering start to the new campaign.

Still carrying the shin injury which brought an abrupt end to last season, the former RB Leipzig man has scored twice in all competitions, yet hasn’t looked right, it must be said, not least in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Just seven games into the campaign, United have already been left to regret the decision not to sign a standout alternative to Sesko in attack, with Zirkzee again offering little in the way of a genuine, starting option.

Michael Carrick’s men already look rather light in the striking department, with that something INEOS need to address in January.

Man Utd planning to sign another centre-forward

United’s joint-worst ever start to a Premier League campaign has quickly brought the club’s polarising summer business into even sharper focus, with Carrick and co paying the price for the lack of investment.

Going all in on the midfield unit hasn’t paid off as yet, with INEOS deciding not to sign a new left-back, winger or striker, even with the Red Devils not exactly blessed in those areas.

The failure to shift Zirkzee no doubt played a part in the decision not to sign a new number nine, yet if the Dutchman can be moved on in 2027, the Red Devils certainly need to acquire a significant upgrade.

One man who could be up to the task is Bayer Leverkusen sensation, Christian Kofane, with German newspaper, SportBild, as relayed by Sport Witness, revealing that United are among the clubs eyeing his signature.

Arsenal are also in the mix and have maintained contact with the player’s camp, albeit with the Old Trafford opening talks of their own of late.

Negotiations are said to have stalled regarding a potential contract extension for the 20-year-old, hence why there is mounting Premier League interest.

Even a renewal may not prevent United from ramping up their pursuit, however, with this a player whom talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded as “one of Europe’s most exciting strikers”.

Still only 20, Kofane has enjoyed a stellar start to 2026/27, even while starting just one Bundesliga game, having scored twice in his four league appearances so far. Sesko, meanwhile, only has one Premier League goal to his name this season.

The younger man is notably scoring at a rate of one goal every 67 minutes thus far, ahead of Sesko’s average of one every 74 minutes in England.

They both boast a 25% goal conversion rate, although Kofane does come out on top in terms of his physical prowess, bettering the ex-Leipzig giant in terms of total duels won (1.5 vs 0.5).

A mere teenager last term, meanwhile, he notably scored five times in the league in his debut campaign in Germany, alongside registering four assists, having previously scored eight goals in Spain’s second tier for Albacete in 2024/25.

As Kulig noted, this is a young striker who is really on the rise, a genuine handful who could freshen up Carrick’s forward line.

Perhaps this is the competition that Sesko needs, or perhaps this could see his already inconsistent role in the side come under even greater threat.