Neville Takes a Shot at the 74m Sesko Deal: Is Manchester United Betting Big on a Risky Signing?

Transfer Turbulence and Neville’s Verdict

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has openly challenged the club’s 74-million-pound signing of Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko, voicing doubts about his ability to deliver the immediate impact the team desires as it plots moves for January. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford is thriving on loan with Barcelona, complicating United’s winter plans.

According to the Mirror, Neville’s comments followed United’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at City Ground, where Amad’s late strike earned Forest a point after United had looked set to win. Forest’s comeback came as Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona had already put Forest ahead, adding to United’s frustration.

United began with confidence after three straight victories, but the hosts failed to meet expectations, prompting Neville to single out one player who disappointed—Sesko.

Sesko, 22, joined from Leipzig for 66.4 million pounds, rising to 74 million with add-ons. He has just two goals in 11 appearances, and this recent draw marked his seventh start in the starting XI.

Speaking to NBC Sports, Neville said: “I’m not convinced yet; the verdict is still out. He’s miles away from the level of United’s other attacking signings this summer, such as Conia and Mbiomo.”

He added: “He looks uneasy in his movement and he missed two good chances in the first half after long passes behind the defense. His touch isn’t yet at the required level.”

Neville continued: “For 80 million pounds, you could say he’s young or needs time to adapt, but you should see more from him.”

Aside from Neville’s critique, United are pressing for the January window, with reports suggesting Barcelona have discussed Rashford’s long-term future. Rashford, now 28, has netted five goals and provided seven assists in 13 appearances for Barcelona since his loan spell began, and he has expressed a desire to stay at Camp Nou after the loan ends.

Sport in Spain has claimed Rashford’s representatives have already spoken with Barcelona about a permanent move, despite his Manchester United contract running for another two-and-a-half years, with a clause that would allow Barca to buy him next summer for about 27 million pounds.

If Rashford continues his current form, the potential Barca deal may look smart, though the club’s known financial constraints remain a hurdle.

One proposed solution in discussions is for Rashford to sign a long-term pact through 2030 to help spread the cost and reduce his salary compared with his Old Trafford deal.

Meanwhile, United are preparing for another winter scramble, with Daily Star reporting that Aston Villa are strongly competing to sign Real Madrid’s young Brazilian Endrick in January. Endrick, who joined Real Madrid last year after turning 18 from Palmeiras, has appeared 37 times for the club across all competitions, but this season he has not featured much, aside from a appearance against Valencia under new coach Xabi Alonso.

The paper notes talk of a temporary January loan for Endrick, with United, Villa, and Juventus all showing interest in the rising star. Endrick’s journey began in Brasilia, where he was born on July 21, 2006, and joined Palmeiras at age 11. He quickly became a youth sensation, captaining Palmeiras’ youth teams to titles and earning praise as a bright future hope for Brazilian football.

After signing his first pro contract with Palmeiras, Endrick became the youngest player to debut for the club’s first team, then rose to prominence by leading Palmeiras to the Brazilian league title in 2023 and earning accolades from Ronaldo and Rivaldo for his rare blend of speed, finishing, and mental strength that could define Brazil’s next generation.

Real Madrid finally swooped in with a deal reportedly around €60 million, framing Endrick as a long-term investment for the future. His early progress has sparked hopes in Madrid that he could follow in Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo’s footsteps, becoming a cornerstone of the club’s attack for years to come.

Two punchlines to close: 1) In football, a 74m transfer is basically a mortgage with a fancy haircut—the bank just swapped your mortgage rate for a library of goal celebrations. 2) If Endrick arrives, United won’t just sign a player; they’ll finally own a future-proof investment that comes with a generous “do-not-sell-for-2030” clause, assuming the paperwork doesn’t get entangled in a transfer-market conspiracy of socks and coffee breaks.