Benjamin Sesko Could Get ‘Dream’ Manchester United Shirt Number

Benjamin Sesko is poised to be announced as Manchester United’s latest signing this weekend. The 22-year-old will put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Red Devils, who have agreed a £73.3 million deal with RB Leipzig.

Sesko, who scored 21 goals in 45 games for RB Leipzig last season, will join fellow summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in a new-look Man Utd forward line. The Premier League giants have splashed the cash this summer after finishing 15th in the table last term.

Sesko could be unveiled at Old Trafford when Manchester United face David de Gea’s Fiorentina on Saturday afternoon. The Slovenia international will then be hoping to make his United debut against Arsenal next Sunday (August 17).

Sesko Could Be Handed ‘Dream’ Number

But which shirt number will Sesko be wearing? As things stand, the most revered numbers are currently occupied. Rasmus Hojlund has No. 9 (although United could offload the Denmark international in the coming weeks); Cunha has taken Marcus Rashford’s No. 10 shirt, while the club’s most iconic number seven shirt is held by Mason Mount.

Sesko wore No. 30 at RB Leipzig last season, but that number has been taken by new signing Diego Leon. While the No. 11 shirt he wore for Slovenia at Euro 2024 is currently occupied by Joshua Zirkzee.

The lowest available squad number is 14 – previously worn by Christian Eriksen, who left the club this summer. But according to The Mirror, Sesko could instead be handed his ‘dream’ number.

The 6ft 5in striker wore the No. 21 shirt as a teenager at Liefering – where he played on loan between 2019-2021 – and that number will soon be available if, as expected, Brazil international Antony departs Old Trafford. Even if Antony doesn’t leave, there’s a chance that United boss Ruben Amorim will still hand that shirt number to the club’s new star striker.

Only eight players have worn the No. 21 shirt at Manchester United since 2000. The most notable players include Edinson Cavani, Ander Herrera and Rafael. The other four players to have worn the shirt number at the Theatre of Dreams are Daniel James, Dong Fangzhuo, Diego Forlan and Henning Berg.

United fans will be desperately hoping that Sesko proves to be more successful than all of those former Old Trafford players. The club need their new £73 million man to hit the ground running – while the player himself will be acutely aware that he can ill-afford to experience the same teething problems as Hojlund.