Man Utd urged to block transfer as Benjamin Sesko deal nears completion

Dimitar Berbatov has suggested that the arrival of Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United could be the catalyst for Rasmus Hojlund to up his game and he should stay at Old Trafford. Despite a disappointing season last year, with only four Premier League goals to his name, Hojlund now faces competition from the new signing.

In response to Hojlund's lacklustre performance, Ruben Amorim has acted swiftly to strengthen his attacking options this summer. He has secured the services of Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a deal worth £62.5million and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a package totalling up to £71m.

Now, it seems that RB Leipzig sensation Sesko is set to join the ranks at Old Trafford. The 22-year-old has been hot property this summer following his impressive performances in the Bundesliga. Both United and Newcastle have been vying for his signature.

However, it appears that United have won the race, with Sesko arriving in the UK for a medical on Friday after a deal worth £73.7m was agreed upon.

This means that Hojlund will face stiff competition for his place in the team. Berbatov, who netted 56 goals and provided 27 assists during his tenure under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2008 and 2012, believes this could be the push Hojlund needs to excel, providing he adopts the right mindset.

Speaking to Mirror Football about the impact of Sesko's arrival, the LiveScore and LiveScore Bet European Brand Ambassador said: "I am excited with him going to United, but at the same time I am a bit cautious because [Joshua] Zirkzee and Hojlund were performing great in their previous clubs.

"I watched how they moved, how they bullied defenders, how they scored goals, but then going to the Premier League, they found it difficult to adjust. And the stats speak for themselves, right? Three goals, four goals, for a striker you are going to be disappointed with yourself.

"So it's not easy, and is it the speed? Is it the new team? Is it the new environment? Is it most of the time the expectation people put on you because when you are number nine of United, you need to score goals, you need to perform, this is your job, this is your job description.

"Of course, there is so much more to being number nine. Dropping down deep, getting the ball, then releasing your team-mates. Running of course, defending when you need to defend, release the spaces for the other team-mates. It's a lot more to [being a] number nine these days, but ultimately it's about the goals you score.

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"It was difficult campaign for them and it's a difficult period that they are going through, and now with another striker coming in, of course the competition is going to be high. When you buy a striker now you start to think, 'Well am I going to play? Is my place in United? Am I still belonging here? Do I need to start looking for a club?'

"Or maybe then you start thinking, 'Alright, I like the competition. Now I'm going to show you. Now I'm going to fight for my place. Now I'm going to bring the fire.'

"So it's a two-way scenario. You choose the one I said or the other. So let's see what they are going to bring to the table as well."

Berbatov also stressed that Amorim needs to ensure Hojlund feels valued and desired if he wants to extract the finest performances from the Danish forward, suggesting rivalry for places could prove beneficial for the youngster.

He continued: "You always want the competition, but at the same time, as a striker, because we think we're special, you need to feel welcome and wanted in the team, by the coach, by everybody.

"Then your motivation is going to be higher and your self-esteem is going to be higher. It's a lot of factors. It's not easy, but it's all in the head."

For this to transpire, Amorim must fend off any incoming transfer interest for Hojlund as the summer transfer window begins to wind down. Currently, United are prepared to let Hojlund depart Old Trafford for a sum of around £30m, despite the striker's insistence on staying and battling for his position.

With Hojlund already aligning with Berbatov's mindset, it falls to Amorim to sway the board's opinion on the player to see if robust competition truly allows him to thrive in a new season. However, it now seems AC Milan are poised to approach the Red Devils to bring him to the San Siro on loan for the upcoming season.