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Manchester United hardly threatened against a far from impressive Arsenal and eventually succumbed to a 0-1 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday.
This was their 14th defeat in the Premier League, the most losses in any campaign since the competition’s inception, and judging from the safety-first approach employed by manager Erik ten Hag, more losses are on the cards.
After their most recent hammering at the hands of Crystal Palace, the Dutchman decided to finally shut shop against the Gunners and that resulted in United enjoying the majority of possession but hardly threatened the opposition goal.
Even with the clock ticking down, the Red Devils showed little urgency and the form of Rasmus Hojlund is another concern.
Rasmus’ difficult debut season
The Dane is hardly getting any service from his fellow attackers while the 21-year-old seems to be struggling with the physicality in the English top flight and is often seen backing into defenders trying to hold on to the ball.
With his full focus on trying to win the physical battle, he mostly ends up losing the ball and that does not allow the team to relieve some of the pressure.
Ten Hag had asked for reinforcements last summer as well as in January as he felt it would be wrong to overburden the Denmark international considering his limited experience.
But no help was forthcoming and with Marcus Rashford’s form falling off a cliff while Anthony Martial remains sidelined, Ten Hag has had no choice but to keep playing Hojlund, who looks in need of a break.
Sesko remains a target
An elite summer signing is required to alleviate some of the pressure off the former Atalanta starlet’s shoulders and one name that has been doing the rounds for quite some time is Benjamin Sesko, currently of RB Leipzig.
The Slovenian was a major target back when he was playing at sister club RB Salzburg, and the 20-year-old earned a move to the Bundesliga last summer and has carried on in the same vein.
In 21 starts across all competitions, Sesko has 17 goals and two assists and is the club’s second top-scorer this season with Leipzig currently fourth and enroute to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.
Benjamin Šeško’s agent was in attendance at Old Trafford for Manchester United-Arsenal.
Here’s Elvis Basanovic posting from the stadium ahead of summer transfer window. pic.twitter.com/q7YJt1IpIg
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 13, 2024
And the rumour mill was sent into overdrive as his agent Elvis Basanovic was spotted at Old Trafford, watching the United-Arsenal game.
This is not the first United game the agent has attended with Basanovic also spotted at The Theatre of Dreams for the clash against Liverpool back in April.
Sesko’s agent spotted at OT
He could have been there simply to watch the game or to talk with the club regarding a summer move. Both clubs have been linked with a move with INEOS keen to pair him up with Hojlund.
The young striker has a release clause of €50 million and there were reports that the Bundesliga club are open to selling him for less than that amount.
But the Slovenia international has been on fire in the second half of the campaign and is currently on a run of scoring in six straight Bundesliga games. And his release clause is said to have increased by €15 million.
It will be intriguing to see where Sesko lands up. Whether United target someone experienced alongside the Denmark international or whether they choose to go down the route of adding young talent in the summer remains to be seen.
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