Alan Shearer believes Manchester United and his beloved Newcastle United are making significant ‘gambles’ in their pursuit of Benjamin Sesko.
Newcastle’s opening bid for the Slovenia striker, worth around £70m, was rejected by Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.
Manchester United are yet to make a formal offer for Sesko but have indicated to Leipzig that they are ready to match Newcastle’s bid.
Ruben Amorim is keen to welcome an elite striker to Old Trafford this summer following Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles last season.
Amorim hoped to reunite with his former Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres but the Sweden international rejected the Red Devils in favour of a move to Arsenal.
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Newcastle, meanwhile, are desperately searching for a new striker after Alexander Isak dropped a transfer bombshell by asking to leave St James’ Park.
Premier League champions Liverpool are interested in signing Isak and saw an opening offer worth £110m rejected by Newcastle.
England legend Shearer has described Sesko as a ‘talent’ but says it would be a ‘gamble’ and a ‘risk’ to sign him this summer given the level of improvement needed in his game.
Discussing Manchester United and Newcastle United’s interest in Sesko, Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast: ‘With Sesko, I know he’s young, but that would be a gamble because you’re going to have to pay a decent sized fee.
‘I saw him two or three times in the Champions League last season and there’s definitely room for improvement.
‘Yes, there’s certainly a talent there but there’s a lot improvement that can be made as well. You’re bringing someone who’s unknown into the Premier League and that’s always a bit of a risk.’
Newcastle hero Shearer has branded the club’s transfer window ‘disastrous’ but refused to criticise Isak for trying to leave.
Isak was one of the best strikers in Europe last season, scoring 23 goals in the Premier League and helping Newcastle win the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League.
Expert analysis, Benjamin Sesko
It was quite a tough season for Leipzig, which forced them to change coach after a disappointing Champions League campaign. They’ve been struggling, which reflects on his output, but he was still one of their best and most consistent players.
Sesko’s strengths are certainly his physicality and speed – he’s great at making dangerous runs in behind defences, but he’s also a very clinical and instinctive finisher, especially when the ball drops to him in the area. His work rate is good and he’s a willing runner off the ball as well.
His hold-up play is quite strong, but I think his link-up play is a side of his game that he can still improve. It’s not that he’s bad at that side of the game, but compared to someone like Kai Havertz, he’s not at that level. In particular, his passing will need to get a lot better.
But during his young career, he’s shown he can take those steps forward. His mentality is definitely a strength – he’s a player who wants to learn and wants to improve so in that sense he will be a quick learner.
Rune Gjerulff, German football expert and editor of Bulinews
The 25-year-old has left it late in the transfer window to push for a move, leaving Newcastle scrambling around for replacements.
‘Up to now it’s been a disastrous window for Newcastle,’ Shearer added.
‘It was meant to be the time we kicked on with heavy investment and hopefully go to another level. It’s been anything but that to be honest.
Why Shearer is ‘not angry’ with wantaway striker Isak
‘They’ve missed out on several first-choice targets, so up to now it’s been really poor. Their transfer window has been a mess.
‘I thought Isak might have stayed for another season and then this would have happened next summer. But it is what it is.
‘If he can’t be persuaded to stay then you take the money and you just say, “thanks for the great memories, off you go.”
Asked whether he was ‘angry’ at Isak following his decision to leave St James’ Park, Shearer said: ‘It’s football.
‘I’m not angry at all at him, I understand how football works and know what happens in the game. I understand his mentality, even if I don’t have to like it.
‘Obviously Liverpool have been into him and his agent but I just thought this might have happened next year.
‘If he really wants to go, you take big money for him and get other players in and you move on.’
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