Manchester United’s Sesko Gamble: Regret Over Missed Opportunity with Moise Kean?
Manchester United are reportedly questioning their summer transfer strategy after a slow start to life at Old Trafford for new signing Benjamin Sesko, with some suggesting they missed a trick by passing up the chance to acquire Moise Kean from Fiorentina.
The Red Devils invested heavily in attacking reinforcements this summer, bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus cunha, Senne Lammens, and Diego Leon, along with the headline signing of Sesko. However, early returns on the £73.7 million (€85m, $99.7m) investment in the 22-year-old Slovenian striker have been underwhelming.
Sesko arrived at old Trafford after United failed to secure the services of Viktor Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal, and Liam delap, who opted for Chelsea. Having made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League and one start in the Carabao Cup, Sesko is yet to register a goal or assist, ofen appearing lost on the pitch.
This has led to speculation, fueled by a report from TuttoJuve, that the club is experiencing “regret” over not pursuing a deal for Kean. the Italian outlet claims that Fiorentina offered Kean to Manchester united for a fee of €52 million (£45m,$61m) – a deal that ultimately went unpursued. This release clause was valid between july 1 and July 15.
The potential acquisition of Kean was described as “a real bargain on paper,” given his age and international experience.Former Fiorentina striker christian Vieri lauded Kean as “a phenomenal striker” in June 2025, highlighting his proven goal-scoring ability. Indeed, last season, Kean scored 25 goals and provided three assists in 44 appearances across all competitions for Fiorentina.
However, United ultimately decided against signing Kean, a decision that now appears to be under scrutiny. While the striker’s previous stint in the Premier League with Everton was largely unsuccessful – netting just four goals and two assists in 39 games – his recent resurgence in Italy is undeniable. Kean also had a somewhat inconsistent spell at Juventus, scoring 22 goals in 123 appearances, and was sold by the club for a second time in 2024.
One analyst noted that spending €52 million on a player who previously struggled in the Premier League would have been a important risk, particularly given United’s current position. The club seemingly prioritized potential over proven performance,opting for the younger Sesko,who was also a target for Arsenal.
Despite his slow start, there remains belief that Sesko can succeed at Old Trafford. Former Slovenia international striker Miran Burgic recently told Zurnal24 that Sesko’s struggles are symptomatic of a wider malaise within the club.”United is struggling in the game,” Burgic explained. “They are not putting their opponents under pressure, they are not creating many situations for the attackers. It is difficult to come into such an environment, where there has been a negative trend for several years.”
Burgic emphasized that Sesko’s success will depend on his ability to cope with the pressure and criticism, but reiterated his belief in the player’s quality: “He is definitely a top footballer.The price they paid for him says it all.”
Recent reports indicate further activity in the transfer market for Manchester United. Trusted journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the club is poised to offload an underperforming player at the behest of manager Amorim. Additionally, an unnamed international winger is reportedly “dreaming” of a move to Old Trafford, despite interest from Arsenal. Sources close to TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Fraser Fletcher, suggest that United are planning a £160 million double swoop to bolster Amorim’s rebuilding efforts.
Ultimately, while the debate over Sesko versus Kean continues, Manchester United’s success this season will hinge on their ability to unlock the potential of their new signings and address the underlying issues that Burgic identified.The coming months will be crucial in determining whether the gamble on Sesko pays off, or if the missed opportunity with Kean will be a source of long-term regret.
