Liam Delap: Roy Keane delivers blunt verdict on United dodging £30m striker deal | OneFootball

Manchester United’s £73 million investment in Benjamin Sesko increasingly looks like money well spent.

The 22‑year‑old striker is growing into his role at Old Trafford, improving game by game. Despite limited minutes, Sesko has made a decisive impact: in his last six appearances, only two of which were starts, he has scored five goals. Four of those strikes (against Burnley, Fulham and West Ham United) directly earned United five points.

The summer 2026 signing has already shown he can deliver in big moments, the very measure by which strikers are judged. There is little doubt that the Slovenian will only get better at M16, and he has already hinted as much himself.

Recalling United’s 2025 striker chase

That said, while Sesko seems the striker United really needed, it is worth remembering that he was not the club’s first-choice target. Their top priority had been Liam Delap, whose 12 goals in 37 games for Ipswich during the 2024–25 season convinced United to consider activating his £30 million release clause as an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund.

Delap, however, rejected the move to Old Trafford, a decision Roy Keane is describing as United “dodging a bullet.”

Speaking on Stick to Football, the former United captain explained why missing out on Delap may have been a blessing:

“At the moment, he’s obviously lacking confidence, and he lacks real quality, doesn’t he? Being a handful up front isn’t enough. But he’s only a young kid, you’ve got to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’m not writing him off, but he’s been a miss so far.”

Gary Neville also weighed in, noting Delap’s struggles at Chelsea:

“I think we all said at the start of the season that we weren’t sure how he would do at Chelsea. He’s got one goal in 17 league appearances, and he was obviously injured for a period.”

Of course, Chelsea and United operate with different tactical demands, so it remains speculative whether Delap would have struggled at Old Trafford.

Sesko Has Been the Better Bet

What is clear, however, is that United fans have no reason to regret the club’s decision. Sesko’s numbers speak for themselves: he has enjoyed a stronger season and laid the perfect foundation to become a major success.

United may have paid more, but the investment is already proving worthwhile.

Benjamin Sesko vs Liam Delap: 2025–26 season comparison (Transfermarkt)

After the Hojlund experiment, United could not afford another misstep in striker recruitment. Sesko, capable of conjuring goals out of nothing, is steadily proving he was the right choice.

Now, all eyes are on caretaker head coach Michael Carrick to see whether he will start trusting United’s number 30 with greater responsibility and grant him a consistent place in the starting line‑up.

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

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