Benjamin Šeško to Manchester United: A Different Story to Højlund

The announcement of Benjamin Šeško’s potential move to Manchester United has naturally triggered comparisons with the club’s previous investment in a young striker, Rasmus Højlund. Both are highly rated, physically gifted No. 9s but to suggest history will repeat itself is to ignore how much the environment and the player has evolved.

When Højlund arrived, he was just 20 years old and immediately tasked with leading the line for a disjointed attack. He walked into a frontline that lacked structure and support: Garnacho, still in his teens; Antony, struggling to adapt to the pace and physicality of Premier League and a Marcus Rashford, very low on confidence. Bruno Fernandes was the only established creative outlet, and despite putting up great numbers, even he couldn’t patch together an attacking unit that lacked cohesion.

Today, the scenario is vastly different.

Šeško wouldn’t be walking into a vacuum, he’d be stepping into a much more balanced and well-constructed system. With new signings Cunha and Mbeumo on either side, Amad emerging with confidence, and Bruno orchestrating behind, United’s attacking framework is now built on fluidity, movement, and goal contributions from multiple sources. This reduces the burden on a central striker, allowing someone like Šeško to integrate gradually while still making a meaningful impact.

What makes the prospect of Šeško at United particularly exciting is how naturally he fits into this kind of tactical system. His potential partnership with Cunha and Mbeumo evokes comparisons to Leipzig’s own high-octane front lines, built not around static roles, but around movement, rotational positioning, and quick decision-making. All three forwards are two-footed, comfortable drifting across the frontline, and thrive in systems where spatial awareness and instinctive interplay are paramount. Šeško fits that mould to a tee. He is a mobile, physical, intelligent forward who brings both vertical threat and link-up value.

That said, he’s not without areas that need polish. One-on-one finishing has occasionally been flagged as a weakness, an odd contrast to his otherwise clean ball-striking and generally sound finishing metrics. In high-pressure scoring scenarios, he can sometimes snatch at chances rather than calmly slotting them away. But this is more a developmental refinement than a fundamental flaw.

Physically, however, Šeško’s ceiling is immense. His vertical leap is among the best in Europe for a striker; he rises with power and precision, making him a major threat from set pieces and crosses. He’s also quick across the ground, especially when United look to break in transition. Add to that his ability to play with his back to goal, where he shields defenders, creates separation, and links play with deft touches and you begin to see a complete centre-forward in the making.

While some critics may be quick to label Šeško as simply another “developmental” striker in the mould of Højlund, that perspective doesn’t hold up to scrutiny when you assess his body of work. Despite being only 22, Šeško has already amassed over 200 senior club appearances and found the net 90 times; a level of exposure and output that belies his age. On the international stage, he’s earned 40+ caps for Slovenia and scored regularly, including on major stages such as the European Championship.

What truly sets him apart, however, is his record against top opposition. He’s delivered goals consistently against high-level sides: multiple goals against Bayern Munich, Napoli, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Atlético Madrid. He’s proven capable in both the Bundesliga and European competitions, showing that he doesn’t just feast on weaker opponents. This isn’t a raw prospect being thrown into the deep end, it’s a forward with tangible experience, battle-tested in elite fixtures and already producing on the biggest stages. He won’t need to carry the team from day one and that’s the point. He can grow within an improved functioning unit, with the support he needs to flourish.

United aren’t just signing a striker. They’re investing in a profile that matches their recruitment strategy and the direction of the modern game; fast, fluid, multi-dimensional. If he reaches even close to his potential, Benjamin Šeško could be the missing piece in an incredible transformation of a new-look Manchester United attack.

This isn’t a repeat of Højlund. This is evolution.