Benjamin Šeško: The Raw No.9 United Are Betting Big On

The numbers and chart show why Benjamin Šeško looks like the most complete scorer of the three. He scores more often, 0.49 goals per 90 compared to Højlund’s 0.36 and Zirkzee’s 0.19 and he finishes his chances far better, at an impressive 25.8% conversion rate. He’s also a real aerial threat, winning nearly 59% of his duels, while the others sit under 30%. On top of that, he gets into the box just as often as Højlund (around 3.4 touches per 90) and more than Zirkzee, so he’s in position to make those chances count. His xG numbers are similar to Højlund’s, but his finishing turns similar chances into more goals.

Zirkzee’s stats back up the idea he’s more of a link‑up forward than a main goal scorer, his shot quality is close to Šeško’s, but he ranks in just the 29th percentile for finishing and barely wins anything in the air. Højlund sits somewhere in between, he gets into good positions but lacks Šeško’s cutting edge and physical dominance. In short

Efficient Finishing
Šeško averaged 0.48 goals per 90 in the Bundesliga, slightly outperforming his non‑penalty xG of 0.32 per 90, the sign of a striker who converts more than he should.

Making him an upgrade in a team that squandered too many big chances last season.

Aerial Threat
He won 59% of his 122 aerial duels last year. At 6′4″ he’s built for target‑man duties, but he’s no one‑dimensional header merchant, almost a quarter of his goals came from outside the six‑yard zone.

Shot Volume and Accuracy
With 2.50 shots per 90 and 1.1 on target per 90, he’s selective rather than wasteful. He tends to avoid speculative angles, giving himself a higher probability of scoring.

Secondary Creativity
Five assists in the Bundesliga underline that he’s not purely a finisher. Averaging 0.09 expected assists and 0.70 key passes per 90, he can lay on chances when defenders are occupied by his runs.

Physical Presence & Pace
Šeško combines size and speed in a way that draws obvious comparisons to Haaland. He can run channels, hold off defenders, and exploit space behind, qualities that fit Amorim’s desire for a mobile front line.

Limited Box Involvement
Despite his frame, Šeško ranks low (29th percentile) for touches inside the box. In a United side that will see more possession than Leipzig, he’ll need to increase his penalty‑area activity.

Link‑Play and Ball Security
Winning only 37% of his offensive duels, he can lose out in physical contests when dropping deep. Amorim’s build‑up will demand cleaner hold‑up play to bring Mbeumo and Cunha into dangerous areas.

Passing and Combinations
A 65% pass completion rate is serviceable but leaves room for improvement. His 0.70 key passes per 90 show he’s not a primary creator, adapting to a fluid front three will mean sharpening quick one‑touch exchanges.

Consistency Across Contexts
Ranked 25th for non‑penalty xG/90 among Bundesliga forwards with 1,000+ minutes, he’s not yet elite in chance quality. Adjusting to the Premier League’s physicality and the shift from Leipzig’s counter‑attacks to United’s patient build‑up will be a genuine test.

United’s forwards produced just 44 Premier League goals last season. Højlund’s 4 goals in 32 appearances (0.18 per 90) and Zirkzee’s 3 in 1,393 minutes (0.19 per 90) left the attack lacking a focal point. Šeško’s Bundesliga output of 0.48 goals per 90 would immediately make him United’s most productive striker.

Realistically, his debut season should bring 10–15 league goals and 3–5 assists if he maintains his xG output and adapts to the league’s tempo. Anything below 8-10 goals would lead to some uncomfortable comparisons with Højlund’s slow start. He doesn’t have to carry the attack alone thankfully, Mbeumo’s service and Cunha’s ball‑carrying should ease the load but he must turn half‑chances into goals to justify the investment.

Šeško’s presence offers a genuine target in the box for Mbeumo’s deliveries and Cunha’s cut‑backs, while also freeing space for Bruno to play higher. Zirkzee likely shifts into a rotation role or false‑nine option, and Højlund will most likely find himself used as a back-up or moved on.

Šeško isn’t arriving as a finished product, but his blend of height, pace, and finishing is promising for Uniteds attack. My expectation? He delivers 12-15 league goals, excels in aerial duels, and gives our wide players a proper target. He must improve his build-up play to thrive in Amorim’s system.

With Šeško now officially a Manchester United player for the 2025/26 season, we’ll see how he adjusts to Premier League football under Rúben Amorim.