Michael Owen says £74m star is ‘not the answer’ for Manchester United

Michael Owen has urged Manchester United to ‘upgrade’ Benjamin Sesko ‘in the next year or two’ as he is ‘not the answer’ for the Premier League giants.

United spent £74m to sign Slovenia international Sesko from RB Leipzig last summer.

Sesko was brought in to replace Rasmus Hojlund, who was then offloaded to Napoli, and solve Manchester United’s striker problems.

But Sesko endured a worrying start to his Old Trafford career, scoring just two goals in the first-half of the season and struggling under former manager Ruben Amorim.

The 22-year-old has looked a different player since Amorim’s departure, however, scoring eight goals in his last 11 appearances under caretaker boss Michael Carrick to help United climb to third in the Premier League.

Owen insists Sesko is ‘doing better’ but still doubts he is Manchester United’s long-term No. 9 or a player who can lead the club back to major titles.

‘To me, he’s not the answer long-term,’ Owen told casino.org. ‘He’s not the Manchester United centre-forward forever and ever.

‘He’s an expensive player who can get better and be a nice part of their squad, but equally, if United are playing in their biggest game of the season tomorrow, I don’t think he starts.

‘If Manchester United are wanting to get back to where they feel they belong and challenge for the title, I don’t think he’s the centre-forward that you go into the season with all your hopes pinned on. 

‘Yes, he’s doing better. It’s great to see because it’s not nice to see anybody struggling. That being said, I think there’s an upgrade in there somewhere along the line in the next year or two or whenever somebody comes available. 

‘It’s great now that he can be an influence on the team and the squad and score important goals. But I’m not saying, “oh yeah, everything’s great now and he’s now going to shoot them to the league title”. 

‘He’s improved them, he’s confident again and he’s an asset to the team all of a sudden, but there’s still a long way to go.’ 

Owen also delivered his verdict on Michael Carrick getting the Manchester United job on a permanent basis, insisting he is ‘astounded’ some oppose that outcome.

United are yet to decide Amorim’s long-term replacement but Carrick has emerged as the frontrunner since taking over in January.

‘Imagine if you got rid of Michael Carrick, just imagine it, and you brought in whoever – I don’t care who it is, even a born winner, somebody they’ve already had, that type of manager,’ Owen added.

‘Imagine if things started spiralling, started going poorly again; the ownership would get absolutely lynched. 

‘I’m astounded by certain people saying no, they shouldn’t appoint him. Astounded. Why on earth is this even a question? I don’t get it. 

‘I’m not saying, “go and give him a 10-year contract, everything’s perfect”. But bloody hell, what more can he do? You’ve just got to let this roll.

‘This Manchester United team look like they’re on the way back at this stage. Why would you interfere with anything?

‘I’d be firmly in the camp of him keeping the job. How long is it since Sir Alex left? About a dozen years now. They’ve tried everything: proven managers, the Van Gaals, you’ve had the Mourinhos, David Moyes, then they’ve gone for ex-players and given the likes of Solskjaer a go. 

‘Then they’ve gone a little bit left field and appointed one or two others. The new up-and-coming Portuguese superstar in Amorim, or Ralf Rangnick. 

‘They have tried virtually everything, and after a dozen years of trying and failing, you land on somebody that’s getting a tune out of the players.

‘They’re winning games, they’re looking progressive, some of the players are playing the best football they’ve played in years. 

‘How on earth can anybody say that he shouldn’t continue? What’s the worst that can happen? You give him a two-year contract.

‘He starts the next season, for the first three or four months he loses every game and he’s useless. He can part company with the club. 

‘It’s not like you’ve got to stick with someone for 10 years. It’s not like this is the biggest decision ever. He’s doing well, why not just let it continue? This is absolutely unbelievable what we’re seeing from Manchester United. 

‘If the league started when Carrick took over, Manchester United would be top of the league.

‘We’re talking at this stage now, we’d be a third of the way through the season and Man United at the top of the league. You’d be thinking, well, can they win the league?’

Manchester United could only draw 2-2 at Bournemouth on Friday night but remain third in the Premier League and on course for Champions League qualification.

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