Paul Scholes has warned Benjamin Šeško about the pressure of playing for Manchester United amid the Slovenian’s move from RB Leipzig.
Manchester United are set to finalise the signing of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško, with Rúben Amorim finally landing the centre-forward he’s been targeting this summer.
The two clubs have agreed a deal worth £65 million up front, with an additional £7.5 million in potential add-ons.
Newcastle were also in the race, but once United agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old Slovenian, it became clear that his preference was a move to Old Trafford.
Šeško travelled from Leipzig to Manchester on Thursday evening and is undergoing his medical on Friday ahead of signing his contract. He is expected to be unveiled at Old Trafford before Saturday afternoon’s friendly against Fiorentina.
Scholes worries for Šeško’s development
While Šeško has over 11,000 minutes of senior football in his legs to date, he is still 22 years old, the same age as struggling United striker Rasmus Højlund.
While Šeško is vastly more experienced across Europe than Højlund was when he signed for a similar fee in 2023, former United midfielder and club legend Paul Scholes has questioned Šeško’s decision to join United over Newcastle, warning him that he will have little time to develop his game.
“What I’m trying to say as well is, he’ll have more chance at Newcastle to develop, which he needs,” Scholes said on The Overlap.
“Now, to be a Manchester United centre-forward, as we’ve found with Højlund, as a 22-year-old kid, you’ve got to be ready. It’s got to be now. And Højlund just isn’t quite good enough for that, as we’ve seen.
“But again, he’s not had a chance to be developed. Him [Šeško] going to Newcastle might have been the best thing for him.”
Why did Šeško choose United over Newcastle?
However, Scholes also admits that, when given the choice between signing for Newcastle or Manchester United, it’s hard to turn down a move to United.
“You can’t turn down Man United over Newcastle,” Scholes continued. “You just can’t. Man United finished 16th last year, you finished where you did. Which club, realistically, is going to be successful first?
“Are Man United going to win the league before Newcastle ever do, if they ever do? Of course they are. But I think that is why he wants to go there. But I’m saying from a United’s point of view, is it the best bit? I still think you’re in the same boat as with Højlund.”
Read More: AC Milan in ‘pole position’ for Rasmus Højlund after Manchester United ‘agree transfer terms’
While Šeško may have had more time to develop his game at Newcastle, he has much more of a chance of success at United than Højlund because of the players he had around him.
While a lot of the goalscoring burden at United has been on the Dane, Šeško now has Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Amad, and Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu as a supporting cast surrounding him, who will be able to give him a fantastic supply of chances, while also shouldering some of the goalscoring burden themselves.
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