Sesko Out Until the New Year, Man United Target Mateta for Rp500 Billion
Baca dalam 60 detik
- Benjamin Sesko harus menepi karena cedera tulang kering yang tak kunjung pulih, memperparah krisis lini depan Manchester United yang baru mencetak 10 gol dalam delapan laga liga.
- Manajemen INEOS dikabarkan siap menebus Jean-Philippe Mateta dari Crystal Palace pada bursa Januari dengan harga sekitar £25 juta, memanfaatkan sisa kontrak sang pemain yang akan habis musim panas mendatang.
- Rekrutmen Mateta berpotensi menjadi solusi jangka pendek yang efisien, tetapi juga menimbulkan pertanyaan tentang arah pembangunan skuad jangka panjang di Old Trafford.
Manchester United are once again facing a familiar problem that refuses to go away: sharpness up front. The latest reports say that first-choice striker Benjamin Sesko is still struggling with a stubborn shin injury and is not expected to return to the pitch until early next year. The situation is clearly a heavy blow for Michael Carrick's side, who are fighting to lift their form in the domestic competition.
Since the end of last season, the Slovenia international has felt discomfort in his shin area. Rather than improving, his condition has tended to worsen. In his most recent press conference, Carrick confirmed that the former RB Leipzig forward will be out for a considerable period. "Ben looks like he will be sidelined for a while. We can't say for how long yet," he said, adding that Sesko's absence is a major loss for the team, especially because he was one of the club's top scorers last season.
Sesko's absence has sharpened the productivity problem in attack. In the first eight league matches of this season, the Red Devils have managed only 10 goals. Bryan Mbeumo, who has recently been forced to play as a false nine, has not been able to fill the gap optimally. The Cameroon international has scored just two goals in his last five matches across all competitions, and his performance has been judged to decline when he is deployed outside his natural position. Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee, the only other senior centre-forward, appears not to have earned Carrick's full trust. He has made just four league appearances, all as a substitute, for a total of only 69 minutes played.
With limited internal options, the INEOS management is said to be considering entering the winter transfer market. The name Jean-Philippe Mateta has resurfaced as a primary target. The 29-year-old Crystal Palace striker is reported to have been on United's radar for some time. According to a TEAMtalk report, Mateta's contract at Selhurst Park expires next summer, so Palace could well let him go in January at a cut price, around £25 million, to avoid losing him for free.
Mateta is no stranger to Premier League fans. Over the last three seasons, he has collected 52 goals across various competitions, a record that shows consistency as a penalty-box predator. In addition, his hold-up play and aerial duels are solid. Throughout the 2025/26 season, he has won an average of 2.7 aerial duels per 90 minutes. This quality is much needed by United, who often struggle to retain possession in the opposition area, especially when Sesko is absent.
"Mateta is one of the best strikers in the Premier League right now," said Ben Mattinson, an analyst and Como scout, as quoted by Football FanCast.
From a business standpoint, signing Mateta for £25 million is reasonable. His age of 29 may not fit the long-term building narrative, but the need for instant goals is more urgent. Moreover, United are under heavy pressure from a fan base that is beginning to lose patience after a series of poor results and speculation about Carrick's future. The arrival of an experienced striker like Mateta could calm the turbulence while giving Sesko time to recover without excessive burden.
However, the decision to sign Mateta also carries risks. First, adapting to Carrick's style, which relies on mobility and high-intensity pressing, may not be smooth. Second, if United continue to struggle for goals, public pressure will keep boiling regardless of who is brought in. Just as important, the management must ensure that this move is not merely a stopgap but part of a more measured recruitment strategy.
For fans in Indonesia, this transfer saga is a reminder that a club as big as Manchester United is always the centre of attention, even when it is battered by injuries. Red Devils supporters in the country will certainly hope INEOS move quickly and precisely, given that the January transfer window opens only briefly. The question is whether Mateta will be the answer to the nightmare of Sesko's injury, or merely a temporary patch covering deeper structural problems. Time will tell, but one thing is certain: Old Trafford cannot keep relying on hope on paper.
