Ruben Amorim is reportedly interested in a La Liga superstar in the January transfer window
Benjamin Sesko’s already curious Manchester United career took another turn when he was benched for potentially the biggest game of Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils spell so far against Liverpool, with the manager insisting it was only a bespoke switch to turn away from a physical battle with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
And for once, Amorim had the last laugh as starting striker Matheus Cunha’s opening goal helped his side to a 2-1 win that moved Frank Ilett another step closer to getting his first haircut in a year.
However, it was another indicator that despite scoring twice in two games before the international break, Sesko’s development at Old Trafford will be a slow burn following his potential £74 million move from RB Leipzig. The issue is that with Rasmus Hojlund’s at least temporary departure to Napoli (which will turn permanent if Gli Azzurri keep their top-four position in Serie A and qualify for the Champions League), Amorim has few tailor-made options to rotate with Sesko.
Cunha and Mason Mount have both played up front for the Red Devils this season while Joshua Zirkzee is yet to start at striker in any competition and already looks like his long-term future lies outside of Old Trafford, potentially with a return to Serie A.
Yet following the news that Barcelona still owe transfer fees of £138m, with Manchester City and Leeds United expecting over a third of that, the solution could be on the horizon this season in the form of reports that Manchester United could sign Robert Lewandowski.
Robert Lewandowski could replicate Zlatan Ibrahimovic impact at Old Trafford
Having turned 37 this season, Lewandowski has had to be patient in Catalonia as even disregarding the muscle injuries that have sidelined him for three games this season, there are questions internally at Barcelona over whether he has what it takes to execute Hansi Flick’s energetic pressing.
Lewandowski has only started four matches in all competitions but retains an impressive strike rate better than a goal every 108 minutes, which is 68% more than The Red Devils’ most frequent goalscorer this season, Harry Maguire.
The 37-year-old is the perfect profile to replicate Viktor Gyokeres’ role leading the line at Sporting, as the Swede was Amorim’s top scorer in the 2024/25 season despite the pair only spending three months together before the manager departed for Old Trafford – Gyokeres racked up 21 goals in that time.
Lewandowski has the positioning instincts and all-round finishing ability to thrive under Amorim and maybe even replicate Ibrahimovic’s 29-goal season at Old Trafford, while mirroring the Swedish legend’s impact on the training ground too.
Marcus Rashford spent two seasons learning from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his formative years at Manchester United, playing almost 2,000 minutes with the Swede who helped him improve from impressive flashes in 2015/16 to hitting double figures in first two full seasons in the Red Devils first team and becoming a World Cup star for England.
And The Red Devils should be plotting a similar plan for Lewandowski with Sesko. The Pole has 614 goals and 31 winners’ medals worth of experience to pass onto the 22-year-old and can help mould him into the finished article who could lead the Manchester United line for decades to come.
Barcelona should welcome Man United swoop for Lewandowski
Lewandowski’s contract expires at the end of this season and though Barcelona have the option to extend it by a year, it remains to be seen whether that will be in their best interests. Given Lewandowski earns an estimated €500,000 (£435,000) per week according to Capology and Barcelona are already deep in debt, it seems unlikely the Pole can provide that value at this stage in his career which could open the door for Manchester United.
Valuations of players in the final year of their contracts is notoriously tricky, but Lewandowski’s value is estimated to be in the region of £10m – this would be sorely tempting for Barca.
It may hurt the Spanish champions’ bid to defend their title and push for a European crown but they must be ruthless given their precarious financial situation and moving on Lewandowski in January make the difference in holding onto a talented academy player next summer.
Meanwhile Manchester United would be paying over the odds for a player who will be available on a free transfer next summer but they might recoup some of that outlay on avoiding a contractual bidding war for Lewandowski on the open market and the opportunity to get him contributing early both to the club’s goal difference and his new teammates shouldn’t be passed up lightly.
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