Haaland Volume Two in Benjamin Sesko

A talented striker who is only 22 years old has arrived from the German League to the city of Manchester. He is blessed with remarkable physical attributes. His body is tall like a basketball player, yet he can run like a sprinter. Guess who fits this description?

The figure in question is Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland. In the summer of 2022, he was brought in from Borussia Dortmund at the age of 22. Haaland's natural talent was highly admired at that time. He combines explosive strength and high speed within a height of 195 centimeters.

Three years later, a sense of déjà vu is starting to strike in Manchester. This time, it's Manchester United's turn to sign 22-year-old RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Like Haaland, Sesko also made the move after showing his best potential in the Bundesliga.

Interestingly, Sesko has long been compared to Haaland. The two strikers, who began their careers with Austrian club RB Salzsburg, have nearly identical playing profiles and physical attributes. They are both target men who rely on their physical superiority to create chances.

Sesko, at 195 centimeters, is considered tall by football standards. However, his long legs are very agile. According to data from the German League, Sesko's top speed reaches 35.69 kilometers per hour. This speed surpasses that of Bayern Munich's winger, Leroy Sane (35.31 km/h), who is smaller and more nimble.

Haaland, according to BBC Sport, was the fastest player in the City squad last season, reaching a speed of 35.7 km/h. "Many of my teammates say that I and Haaland are very similar, especially in terms of speed. In fact, the majority believe that I am better than him!" said Sesko in 2022, as quoted by the official German League website.

The similarity is what led to Sesko being purchased at a very high value by MU, potentially reaching 85 million euros (IDR 1.6 trillion). Furthermore, Haaland's profile has proven to be suitable for playing in England. Haaland has won the Premier League Golden Boot twice in the last three seasons.

The strategy of counter-attack transition has been an identity of MU since the era of legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. This identity has persisted through to the current manager, Ruben Amorim. Together with Sesko in the upcoming season, the "Red Devils" could become even more dangerous in transition.

Leipzig is one of the most effective teams in counter-attacks in the German League. They scored a total of 17 goals in the last two seasons, the highest after Eintracht Frankfurt. Sesko played a significant role in this achievement (5 goals). He utilized his speed to exploit the high defensive line of the opponents.

Sesko is also very efficient in taking advantage of opportunities. The attacker from Slovenia has a powerful shot like a rocket. According to Sky Sports, the speed of his shot was recorded at 126.4 km/h in the match against Werder Bremen last January. Opposing goalkeepers often find themselves overwhelmed.

The body and jumping ability of Sesko will enhance MU's attacking quality in aerial duels, including set pieces. He has already scored eight goals from headers over the last two seasons. In comparison, MU striker Rasmus Hojlund has only scored three headed goals throughout his professional career.

MU has been relatively ineffective in capitalizing on set pieces, aside from penalties. They have only managed to score 26 goals from set pieces over the last three seasons in the English Premier League. This figure is the lowest among all teams. Their fortunes could change with the arrival of Sesko.

It is only natural that Sesko has become one of the most sought-after forwards this summer. Before Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle United had already approached him. Since moving to Leipzig in mid-2023, no U-23 player has scored more goals than Sesko in the top five European leagues (39 goals).

The biggest difference between Haaland and Sesko is their destination clubs. In addition to City and MU being city rivals, the two teams are also far apart in terms of stability. The ecosystem at City under Manager Josep Guardiola was already established by the time Haaland arrived. This stands in stark contrast to MU's current situation.

Amorim will only be undergoing his first full season. Last season, MU also finished in 15th place. They are still in the process of rebuilding the squad. On the other hand, Sesko, who arrived at a high price, is already burdened with high expectations. There are concerns that he may become overwhelmed by these expectations, similar to Hojlund.

"Is he capable (of being the figure needed)? I believe he is ordinary. He has great potential," said former MU defender Rio Ferdinand. "However, we have seen in recent years that attackers do not have enough time to prove themselves. There is no patience," he later stated in the podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents.

If viewed from potential, Sesko is very likely to rival Haaland's brilliant career in the English League. He possesses all the necessary talents for that. However, the biggest factor in his journey is mentality. How strong is his "heart" in dealing with the ferocity of supporters and the media in England. (AP/REUTERS)