Manchester United have been told they should have signed Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta over Benjamin Sesko in the summer transfer window. United endured a dire 2024-25 season upfront, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combining for just seven Premier League goals. That failure forced the club to throw big money at RB Leipzig’s Sesko, while also bringing in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Getty ImagesPalace star left on the shelf
Mateta’s name had been floating around Old Trafford for months, but the French forward never made the move. Instead, he stayed put at Selhurst Park and has already hit four goals in his first ten appearances of the new campaign in all competitions. His early form only makes United’s decision look even worse, with their own £73 million ($99m) investment flattering to deceive.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesSesko struggling to find his feet
Sesko has managed just one goal in his opening seven games, leaving fans and pundits scratching their heads over why United didn’t go after someone proven in the Premier League. Mateta has 40 league goals in 136 appearances, a decent record but with definite scope for improvement. Meanwhile, the mood at Old Trafford has soured, with Ruben Amorim’s side marooned in 14th place and struggling to find any rhythm.
Big Sam’s brutal verdict
Sam Allardyce believes United have completely missed the mark with Sesko. The former England boss pulled no punches when speaking on the podcast and said: "Do you know who I’d have bought, more than anybody else? Mateta, absolutely. The centre-forward is absolutely brilliant and why they didn’t buy him, I don’t know, especially when the big strikers are coming back [into fashion].
"You look at the size of the lad that Newcastle signed [Nick Woltemade], you look at the size of the centre-forwards again. Mateta is winning in a team and winning the FA Cup and getting to Europe and it took him more than a year to do it. There aren’t many centre-forwards as good as he is. Why did nobody go: 'Bang!', Manchester United, because he’s got everything."
GettyUnited's freefall under Amorim
United find themselves in freefall. Amorim is already under pressure just weeks into the season, with critics circling around both his tactics and the club’s transfer strategy. Sesko may well come good, but right now, the Old Trafford faithful are left wondering if another huge gamble has backfired.
