Man Utd instructed to 'upgrade' Benjamin Sesko in brutally honest transfer verdict

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Benjamin Sesko isn't the solution up top for Manchester United, and the club will require returning to the transfer market to challenge at the summit, according to ex-striker Michael Owen. The forward reckons Sesko can find crucial goals for United, but remains unconvinced that he can be depended upon in a title race.

United recruited Sesko as they restocked their attacking options for Ruben Amorim in the summer, joining for £74million alongside figures such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha . The 22-year-old netted merely two Premier League goals under the Portuguese manager but has been in blistering form since Michael Carrick assumed the Old Trafford hotseat.

Sesko has notched seven goals in 10 matches since the new year began, though he has largely still featured from the substitutes' bench. The youngster, presently managing an injury, seems to be settling into life in England.

Owen, the official UK ambassador for Casino.org, a comparison website highlighting the best online casinos for UK players, remains doubtful that he alone can steer United to silverware. The pundit does reckon Carrick has done a commendable job in extracting his capabilities, however.

"Listen, let's quantify this. To me, he's not the answer long term. He's not like a Manchester United centre forward forever and ever," Owen told Mirror Football.

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"I think he's an expensive player that can get better and can be a nice member of their squad. If Manchester United are playing in the biggest game of the season tomorrow, I don't think he starts and if Manchester United want to get back to where they feel they belong and challenge for the title, I don't think he's the forward that you go into the season with all your hopes pinned on.

"Yes, he's doing better. Yes, fantastic, it's great to see because it's not nice to see anybody struggling. I think there's an upgrade in there, somewhere along the line, in the next year or two or whatever, whenever somebody becomes available.

"It's great that he's doing well, it's great that he can be an influence on the team and the squad and score important goals. I'm not saying, 'oh yeah, everything's great now and he's now going to shoot them to the league title'.

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"He's improved him, he's gotten confident again, he's now an asset to the team, all of a sudden, but there's still a long way to go"

Sesko recently withdrew from international duty for Slovenia as he looks to manage fitness concerns. Cameroon's Bryan Mbeumo has also pulled out of his national team's camp, but both are anticipated to be fit to face Leeds.

Sesko will now sit out Slovenia's fixtures against Hungary and Montenegro in a bid to ensure he makes a complete recovery from his minor problem. With United not in action the weekend following the international break, Mbeumo and Sesko have three weeks to regain full fitness ahead of facing Leeds in the Premier League on Monday, April 13.