Nicky Butt urges Man Utd to sign £65m striker after raising Benjamin Sesko concern

Sesko has scored 10 goals for United this season (Picture: Getty)

Nicky Butt has urged Manchester United to pursue a move for Victor Osimhen this summer, not convinced Benjamin Sesko can carry the goal-scoring burden up front on his own.

United saw off interest from Newcastle United and Arsenal during the summer transfer window to sign Sesko in a £74million deal from RB Leipzig. After scoring just twice in the first-half of the season, the Slovenia international has been in terrific form since the departure of Ruben Amorim , scoring eight goals in 11 appearances – with just four of those starts.

United are currently sat third in the Premier League and will return to the Champions League next season if they finish the season strongly.

While Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have been used through the middle, Sesko is the club’s only senior centre forward with Butt warning he is ‘not the complete centre forward’ United need in Europe next season.

‘I don’t think he can carry the club up front on his own, they’ll need another no9,’ Butt said. ‘He’s shown he’s got massive potential, great movement, he works his socks off. He can score a goal and you can see he’s good in the air but he’s not the complete centre-forward for United at that level. He can potentially get there.

‘When you go into the Champions League, it’s just a different kettle of fish. The tempo is totally different, the pressure on it is totally different. You’ve then got to come back and perform in the league, maybe two days later.

‘They’re going to have to go out and buy a top, top player. I do believe in recruitment there’s no point in going and buying a player who doesn’t improve the squad. You’ve got to go and buy the best player. I think Sesko will be a good player for United, I don’t think he needs replacing, but someone who is better than him that can lift his game as well.’

Butt believes United need another striker next season (Picture: Getty)

United made a similar mistake in not recruiting a more seasoned striker to support Rasmus Hojlund following his arrival from Atalanta with the Denmark international set to leave United to join Napoli permanently in the summer.

Butt believes United can avoid history repeating itself by turning to Osimhen, believing the Galatasaray star is ‘gettable’ this summer after being linked with a move to the Premier League for years.

The Nigeria international is in his second season with Galatasaray who smashed the Turkish record to sign him for €75million (£65m) on a long-term deal last summer

‘I think he’d [Osimhen] be the one. You’d like to think that players from Turkish sides are gettable,’ Butt said.

Butt wants to see Osimhen at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

‘The recruitment team will not only look at the best players, but you’re looking at the ones that are gettable. You’re wasting time on certain players that you’re not going to get if they cost £120million.

‘I think he’s powerful, quick, he can run in behind, he’s strong, has got a good touch, can score different types of goals, he’s good in the air. It’s a difficult job to recruit players and maybe you go and find someone with potential but they keep doing that and it doesn’t quite work.

‘Sesko has not quite worked, Rasmus Hojlund didn’t work. You’ve got to be careful, spending £65m, £70m on people that are unproven, it’s not right.

‘With Sesko it’s the same mistake as Hojlund. A young, unproven striker, a lot of money, too much weight on his shoulders. Let’s be honest he’s scored a few goals, he’s done well over the last few weeks but he’s not been a roaring success.

‘Sesko might be ready in two or three years but not right now and definitely not in the Champions League. I know Osimhen isn’t proven in the Premier League but you look at his physicality and the way he plays football, he can definitely handle it.’