
Manchester United have made a clear statement of intent with the signing of Benjamin Šeško, who was unveiled ahead of the Reds’ final pre-season game against Fiorentina, alongside fellow summer arrivals, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
And with the club showcasing an upgraded Carrington, is this the season United finally begin to turn things around?
Benjamin Šeško arrives from RB Leipzig for around £66 million plus add-ons, with United beating off competition from Newcastle to bring the 22-year-old to Old Trafford, who also attracted interest from Arsenal earlier in the window.
The Slovenian scored 27 goals in 64 games for Leipzig in the Bundesliga, showcasing his ability to score and create, as well as his strength in the air, aided by his 6 ft 5 in stature.
Along with great pace and work rate, something that Ruben Amorim is looking for in a centre forward.
While he is an exciting talent, he still has flaws that he’ll need to improve if he is to succeed at United.
Notably, his lack of touches in the box; however, this may be a result of how his former team played.
With Šeško’s arrival, United sent a clear message to Rasmus Hojlund that he isn’t part of the plans for the upcoming season, being an unused sub in their 1-1 draw with Fiorentina, amid interest from AC Milan to sign the Danish international.
Although it hasn’t currently worked out for him at Manchester United, a move would likely be the most effective solution to get his career back on track.
Away from the pressure that comes with playing for the club, and with more minutes on the pitch.
United’s season begins this Sunday at home to Arsenal, where their new revamped attack will get its first opportunity to impress in front of a home crowd that will be buzzing with excitement.
There is now an added sense of expectation for the Reds, given the money they’ve spent, but for Ratcliffe, it was seen as now or never, given the pressure Ruben Amorim will be under, wanting to give the manager everything he needs to make this season a success.
And it would appear they aren’t finished yet, with the club actively pursuing a potential move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.
A deal would be difficult, but United are doing what they can to convince the player and approach with an offer that attracts their attention.
Outgoings may be necessary for this to happen, with Alejandro Garnacho edging closer to a move to Chelsea, who have yet to make any offer for the Argentine, who has made the West London club his priority move.
The signings made up until this point have been smart, and it’s clear to see how they will fit into this team, crafting a front three that, on paper, should be able to link up together very well.
United also wanted to bring in players with good character and who wanted to play for the club.
Alongside the £50 million redevelopment of the Carrington Training Complex, there is a strong indication that they are doing everything to improve the culture at Manchester United.
Although it isn’t as exciting to fans as a new player, this is an encouraging example of changing the environment for the better.
By no means is this a guarantee of success; this is something the team needs if they are to be successful.
A win on Sunday would give huge confidence to everyone that this could be a transformative season for the Reds, but we will have to see if they can make good on what’s been a rousing summer.