Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has urged his old club to make a decisive move for Victor Osimhen this summer, arguing that the club’s current striker, Benjamin Sesko, remains an unproven talent despite a recent upturn in form.
Butt, a key member of the club’s famed ‘Class of 92’ and a former head of first-team development at Old Trafford, believes the Nigerian international represents the calibre of ready-made talent United require. “I think he’d be the one,” Butt stated in an interview with Paddy Power. “You’d like to think that players from Turkish sides are gettable.”
Sesko’s rocky road finds recent improvement
Butt’s call comes amidst a period of improved performances from Benjamin Sesko, whose £73.7 million move from RB Leipzig last summer – a fee that could rise to £81.7 million with add-ons – was initially characterised by struggle. The Slovenian was widely criticised after missing a penalty in a Carabao Cup shoot-out loss to Grimsby Town and managed just two goals in his first 17 appearances for the club.
However, his fortunes have changed notably since the turn of the year and the departure of former head coach Ruben Amorim. Sesko has scored eight goals in his last 11 games across all competitions, including four in his previous six Premier League outings.
Butt’s warning: a repeat of the Hojlund scenario
Despite this resurgence, Nicky Butt remains unconvinced, drawing a direct parallel with another expensive, youthful acquisition. “Sesko has not quite worked,” he said. “It’s the same mistake as Rasmus Hojlund. A young, unproven striker, a lot of money, too much weight on his shoulders.”
Hojlund joined United from Atalanta in 2023 for an initial £64 million and, like Sesko, faced intense early scrutiny. Butt believes the club must learn from this pattern. “He’s scored a few goals and done well over the last few weeks but he’s not been a roaring success,” Butt said of Sesko. “Sesko might be ready in two or three years but not right now and definitely not in the Champions League.”
Butt’s assessment is underscored by United’s ongoing battle to secure Champions League qualification for next season, with victory in the Europa League offering a direct route and England’s coefficient ranking providing a potential, though unguaranteed, backdoor entry.
Why Osimhen fits the bill for Butt
In contrast, Victor Osimhen is presented as the antithesis of a project signing. The 27-year-old has long been linked with the Premier League and possesses a proven track record at the highest level, having previously starred for Napoli before his record-shattering €75 million (£64.8 million) move to Galatasaray, which made him the most expensive player in Turkish football history.
Butt praised Osimhen’s comprehensive skill set, describing him as “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.” The former midfielder also highlighted the practicalities of a potential deal, noting that while elite players costing £120 million may be out of reach, a star from the Turkish Süper Lig could represent a more achievable target for the recruitment team.
Historical complications remain, however. United, along with Chelsea, have previously shown strong interest in Osimhen but were reportedly unwilling to meet Napoli’s steep valuation. There were also indications that United once walked away from negotiations due to the striker’s wage demands, said to be in the region of £300,000 per week. Osimhen has since expressed a desire to stay at Galatasaray, having declined offers from Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, Butt’s argument rests on a clear philosophy: with Champions League football a realistic prospect, United’s immediate need is for a centre-forward capable of delivering from day one, not in several seasons’ time.
