As somebody who can execute a slam dunk as simply as a close-range header, it’s no shock Benjamin Sesko has at all times reached for the celebs.
A proficient basketball participant who idolises fellow Slovenian and NBA star Luka Doncic, the 6ft 5ins Sesko set his sights on taking Erling Haaland’s No 9 shirt from the second he joined Purple Bull Salzburg in 2019. Subsequent season, Sesko could also be attempting to beat the Manchester Metropolis ahead to the Premier League golden boot.
Manchester United and Newcastle imagine Sesko, who performs for RB Leipzig, can provide them one thing completely different. United want a top-class No 9; Newcastle have one, however could also be in regards to the lose Alexander Isak to Liverpool. For about £75million, Sesko could have little margin of error.
Although he’s nonetheless solely 22, Sesko has been on the radar of the Premier League’s high golf equipment for at the least 4 years. Certainly, Salzburg had some enjoyable on social media on the expense of United in 2022 on studying of their curiosity in Sesko, who was then 19. ‘We now need €1billion, Bruno Fernandes and (mascot) Fred the Purple for Sesko,’ they wrote that summer season.
Oliver Durr Dehnhardt, head of soccer technique at scouting platform Eyeball, has adopted Sesko since he was taking part in within the youth ranks at NK Domzale in his homeland. Dehnhardt believes Sesko has the uncooked materials to achieve the Premier League however wants so as to add sophistication to his evident items.
‘Sesko has the potential to grow to be the most effective and most full strikers within the sport,’ Dehnhardt tells Mail Sport. ‘He’s tall, bodily dominant and wonderful within the air. For his measurement, he exhibits nice acceleration and a formidable high velocity. He can end powerfully with both foot.
Manchester United and Newcastle are determined to win the race for the RB Leipzig striker
The Slovenian worldwide’s unimaginable athleticism is among the many skills that has put him on the radar of Premier League golf equipment for a number of years
However Oliver Durr Dehnhardt, head of soccer technique at scouting platform Eyeball, believes the striker should enhance his link-up play to achieve the following degree
‘That makes him a useful asset for groups who assault in transition – much like Haaland when he was at Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund.
‘Although he has a good technical package deal, I imagine he wants to enhance his link-up play. To achieve the following degree, he wants extra steadiness to his sport.
‘I might have an interest to see how he would adapt to taking part in in a possession-based group, the place house in assault is tighter. He must study to work throughout the entrance line and discover house in numerous pockets. I feel it is fairly much like the transition Haaland wanted to make when he moved from Dortmund to Manchester Metropolis.’
Although he doesn’t flip 23 till subsequent Could, there are few doubts about Sesko’s potential to modify international locations. He has carried out so already twice in his quick profession and can be aided by his wonderful degree of English.
‘If developed proper, he can grow to be the most effective strikers on the earth over the following decade, if not the very best,’ provides Markus Fjortoft, a sports activities advisor and host of the Fussball Channel, a Bundesliga present. ‘He’s pure goalscorer, bodily and athletic however with loads of room for enchancment.
‘He’s not the completed article and nonetheless must work on his ending and decision-making.’
Coaches who despair on the period of time trendy gamers spend on their gadgets would discover Sesko refreshing. Within the hours earlier than matches, Sesko switches off his cellphone as he believes extreme display screen time makes him drained. He prefers to learn books as a substitute – factual moderately than fiction.
A sparky character who wears his coronary heart on his sleeve, Sesko is a well-liked member of the Leipzig squad and his ferocious table-tennis duels with Xavi Simons are the stuff of dressing-room legend.
Sesko is a well-liked member of the Leipzig squad and his ferocious table-tennis duels with Xavi Simons are the stuff of dressing-room legend
Sesko’s path – Purple Bull Salzburg to the Bundesliga – has drawn comparisons with Erling Haaland
When in his condo, Sesko burns scented candles to attempt to assist him chill out although this can not at all times douse his emotional streak.
He was crying on the pitch in the direction of the tip of Slovenia’s sport towards Kazakhstan in November 2023, which sealed their place at Euro 2024, and has clashed with membership officers.
‘My hardest second got here after I was taking part in at Salzburg,’ Sesko recalled final season. I ought to have been the first-choice striker there, and I voiced my opinion about one thing that did not go down properly. I used to be younger, after all.
‘Then abruptly I used to be watching from the stands. I needed to combat my approach again to even be within the squad after which to get within the first XI. You possibly can say it was the worst second, however it made me a lot more durable and taught me methods to act in such conditions. It was a superb lesson.’
Sesko’s path – Purple Bull Salzburg to the Bundesliga – has drawn comparisons with Haaland however he has some method to journey to be as prolific because the Norwegian.
He scored 13 instances in 33 league video games final time period, 14 in 31 the yr earlier than. But whereas Haaland generally struggles in tandem with one other ahead, Sesko has dovetailed impressively with Belgian star Lois Openda at Leipzig.
The ultra-physical, ultra-athletic Premier League will definitely be a check of Sesko’s power and endurance. ‘He’s sturdy, good within the air and has a formidable eye for objective however he can go lacking in video games,’ says Berlin-based Bundesliga knowledgeable Mark Meadows. ‘That was actually a think about Leipzig failing to qualify for Europe for the primary time as a Bundesliga membership.
‘Though he has a fame for having a brief fuse, his solely yellow playing cards this season got here in the identical match, once they misplaced 2-1 at Stuttgart in January.’ After gathering a league-high six pink playing cards in 2024-25, his suitors will definitely hope they will train Sesko, who idolises Sweden nice Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to maintain calm on the pitch.
Sesko is as well-known on-line for his celebration as for his objective – a leap for pleasure that will surely impress his idol NBA star Luka Doncic
‘He is nonetheless my favorite participant,’ Sesko has mentioned. ‘The magic he may do, at his measurement, was unbelievable to look at. I like his character too – although it is not the identical as mine.’
Sesko’s most well-liked shirt quantity is 30, which he has worn since his Salzburg days.
Sesko is as well-known on-line for his celebration as for his objective – a leap for pleasure that will surely impress his idol Doncic. ‘Individuals can see how excessive I can leap,’ Sesko admits. ‘Typically it is increased or decrease, relying on how a lot I’ve run earlier than or if I am drained or not, however I can leap actually excessive. It feels wonderful. United and Newcastle followers hope Sesko is the primary to boost the bar.
