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Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has compared new Manchester United signing Benjamin Sesko to the ex-Reds striker Darwin Nunez after he made a $100 million (£74 million) move to Old Trafford this summer.
Manchester United beat off competition from Newcastle to sign Sesko, in what was something of a blow to Liverpool's chances of convincing the Magpies to cash in on Alexander Isak. And Hamann, who watched a lot of the Slovenian in the Bundesliga during his time with RB Leipzig, says Nunez is the closest match to Sesko right now in terms of style.
"I'm not sure whether Man Utd fans want to hear it, but I think Nunez is a pretty similar player," Hamann told Casino Hawks. "I think Sesko has got the body, he's got the height, he's got the pace.
"I think he's got a better touch than Nunez. He's technically a very gifted player, but he's a powerful young lad. Nunez is probably the one I would compare him with in recent years."
Nunez left Liverpool last week to sign for the Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. He netted on his first appearance for the club after switching for an initial fee of around $62 million (£46 million).
"I'd say Sesko's finishing is probably a bit better than Nunez, but he's got to prove it," Hamann said. "He did it at times at Leipzig. He's in the spotlight now at Manchester United.
"Obviously, we've also seen that some big names went to Manchester United in the last 10 years as center-forwards, and they didn't succeed. It won't be an easy task, but I think he's capable of doing it."
In 2024/25, Sesko scored 21 goals for Leipzig in 45 appearances. Thirteen of those goals came in the Bundesliga, with four in the Champions League.
"He has the characteristics that we needed," Amorim told MUTV. "Ben is a player — with all the information that we have — that we need to stop the guy from working, not the opposite!
"So that is also important. He's really young. He's good in the air, he's good at running the channels, good on the ball. I think he has great potential.
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"I think he can improve a lot and, for sure, he is going to feel at home in our club. He has the right character to be in this group, so I'm really happy to have him."
Liverpool has brought in its own new number nine this summer in the form of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. It still has some time left in the window to move for Isak again having seen an initial offer turned down.
Liverpool.com says: Sesko is a talented player, but he is still raw in many ways, a lot like Nunez. That potential could be realized at Manchester United, but the club's recent record when it comes to making players better would suggest that is far from guaranteed.
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