Ruben Amorim might have a new centre forward to pick from should Manchester United decide to dip into the January transfer market for a Benjamin Sesko replacement
Ivan Toney has been linked with a move to Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United could decide to sign a new No.9 in the January transfer window after Benjamin Sesko suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham.
Sesko lasted just 30 minutes before limping out of the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, after jarring his knee when he was tackled by Micky van de Ven. The 23-year-old was pictured leaving the ground without crutches, but looked in a great deal of pain and was not moving freely.
United confirmed on Monday that Sesko will not report for international duty ahead of Slovenia’s two World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo this Saturday and Sweden next Tuesday. The former RB Leipzig forward will instead remain at Carrington and continue to be assessed this week.
Although sources have suggested that the issue is not thought to be a serious, there is speculation that United might need to dip into the transfer market for another striker in January. Someone that has been mentioned as a potential replacement and target is Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney.
The 29-year-old spent three years in the Premier League with Brentford, scoring 36 top-flight goals in 83 appearances, before departing the west London club for Saudi Arabia last summer. Since his move to the Middle East, Toney’s form has been outstanding, netting 41 times in 59 games.
Manchester United have been linked with Ivan Toney(Image: Getty Images)
If United made a move for Toney to replace the injured Sesko, he would start as the No.9 in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, with current second-choice centre forward Joshua Zirkzee moving on. Next to Toney would be former Brentford teammate Bryan Mbeumo on the right and Matheus Cunha on the left.
Moving back into the midfield two would be Casemiro, who has been rejuvenated since Ruben Amorim brought him back into the XI at the end of last season, and captain Bruno Fernandes.
Amad Diallo would continue as the right-wing back with Diogo Dalot, who was dropped for Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham, coming back in for Patrick Dorgu as the left-wing back.
Looking at the back three and Amorim has kept a settled central defensive unit in recent weeks, with Harry Maguire as the central centre-back, Matthijs de Ligt as the right centre-back and Luke Shaw as the left centre-back.
The goalkeeper pick is then straightforward, with Senne Lammens acting as the No.1. The Belgian has been impressive since he replaced Altay Bayindir for United’s win against Sunderland last month.
Man United starting XI with Sesko replacement: Lammens; De Ligt, Maguire, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Mbeumo, Cunha; Toney
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