When asked whether Manchester United had seen the best of him yet, £74m man Benjamin Sesko had the perfect response – “there’s loads to come”.
Speaking after netting his first Old Trafford goal in the Premier League win over Sunderland prior to the international break, the Slovenian striker didn’t appear to be getting carried away, despite having scored in two games in succession.
And rightly so, considering the nature of his price tag, with the ex-RB Leipzig sensation still having plenty to prove following his summer arrival from Germany, albeit with the recent signs having certainly been more promising.
Amid a post-Sir Alex Ferguson era that has been littered with short-term, problematic fixes in that centre-forward berth, alongside expensive gambles such as Rasmus Hojlund, the Red Devils simply need Sesko to deliver the goods over the next few years.
Thankfully, there is at least a new wave of talent brewing in the academy to potentially rival the 22-year-old moving forward, with the club’s new number nine in waiting already shining at Carrington.
Ranking Man Utd’s best No.9’s of the Premier League era
While it may not carry the same weight as United’s famed number seven, there is still a level of pressure and scrutiny that comes with being the club’s number nine – a jersey that started the Premier League era in the hands of cult hero, Brian McClair.
The selfless Scotsman – who scored 101 goals in all competitions during his 11-year stay at the Theatre of Dreams – notably relinquished that status to marquee signing, Andy Cole in 1995, following the free-scoring Englishman’s arrival from Newcastle United.
In truth, it is hard to look past Cole as the best of the lot, with the one-time Arsenal man memorably forging that partnership with Dwight Yorke, helping to spearhead Alex Ferguson’s side to treble glory in 1999.
The successor to Cole then came a few years after his 2001 exit, in the form of Louis Saha, with the Frenchman lauded by Gary Neville as among the most underrated players in Premier League history, having previously “destroyed” him during his Fulham days.
Craven Cottage would prove to be the destination for United’s next number nine, Dimitar Berbatov, with the fleet-footed Bulgarian eventually departing for west London in 2012, following four fruitful years in Manchester that included claiming the Golden Boot in 2010/11.
The less said about the next recipient, Radamel Falcao, the better, considering his forgotten, one-season stint, while Anthony Martial’s two spells with the jersey showcased a mix of genius but also frustrating inconsistency.
The Frenchman had seen that status initially removed in 2016 following the statement signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the enigmatic Swede scoring 28 times during his solitary full campaign in red, despite having arrived at the age of 34.
omelu Lukaku, by contrast, didn’t quite live up to the billing, departing after just two turbulent years that did at least yield 42 goals in 96 games, before the number nine returned to Martial.
The most recipient was of course Hojlund, who initially arrived as the new number 11, although last term saw the Dane score just ten times in all competitions, before being shipped off to Napoli.
Ranking Man Utd’s PL No.9s
1 – Andy Cole
2 – Dimitar Berbatov
3 – Louis Saha
4 – Brian McClair
5 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
6 – Anthony Martial
7 – Romelu Lukaku
8 – Rasmus Hojlund
9 – Radamel Falcao
Sesko, hopefully, will far exceed Hojlund’s impact in Manchester, although he might not be the future number nine…
Man Utd’s next number nine in waiting
Having arrived with Hojlund still on the books, Sesko unsurprisingly opted for the vacant number 30 shirt, having previously worn it for both Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg during his stints in Germany and Austria.
With number 11 also what the new United man wears for his country, perhaps he is gunning for Joshua Zirkzee’s jersey instead, rather than the now vacant number nine.
Perhaps, if things go to plan, the successor to Hojlund could well emerge in the form of academy sensation, Chido Obi, with the 17-year-old having already made a fine impact at Carrington since his arrival from Arsenal last summer.
Described as a “goalscoring machine” at the Gunners’ Hale End academy by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Obi has translated such form to Manchester over the past 12 months or so, scoring 12 times in just ten U18 games, alongside netting five goals in 11 outings in the U21 setup, as per Transfermarkt.
Not set to turn 18 until next month, the teen marksman had previously scored 32 goals in just 21 recorded games for Arsenal’s U18s, with United having pulled off a real coup by prising him from their top-flight rivals.
While chances have yet to come at first team level this season, the Denmark U20 international did make eight senior appearances in 2024/25 under Amorim, namely producing a lively cameo in the FA Cup against Fulham.
On another day, the £4m-rated starlet – who has scored three goals so far this term – may well have walked away with a goal during that night at Old Trafford, having been denied from the angle by a fine save from Bernd Leno.
Subsequent appearances showcased that the raw forward still has plenty of work to do to establish himself in the senior side, although he did score twice against Hong Kong during the post-season tour.
Hopefully, with Hojlund out of the equation – and with Joshua Zirkzee looking more suited to a number ten berth – Obi can begin to challenge Sesko more directly in the months and years to come, with Amorim certainly needing competition at the top end of the pitch.
Currently the club’s number 32 – albeit while wearing the nine in the U21 ranks – the former Gunners gem will be pushing to secure a promotion in the years to come.
Considering his sky high potential, he looks destined to be United’s next number nine.
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