Scouting Report: All you need to know about Chelsea target Benjamin Sesko
Chelsea have already snapped up the marquee signings of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. Various publications have confirmed Marc Cucurella is on his way to West London ahead of a whopping £50m-plus-bonuses move.
But what’s been more visible is the longer-term investments the club is churning out. They’ve bagged Gabriel Slonina from the Chicago Fire, Omari Hutchinson from Arsenal, Eddie Beach from Southampton and most recently, the statement signing of Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa for £20m.
Latest reports from renowned transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano suggest the Blues are also weighing up a move for Red Bull Salzburg Benjamin Sesko.
In fact, they had a meeting with the player’s entourage last week. Much like the Chukwuemeka deal, this one didn’t find itself under the limelight either. Earlier, Sky Sports reported that Manchester United were also monitoring Sesko’s situation, though it’s unclear whether Salzburg is keen on letting him go this season.
The striker has four years left on his current deal, and his club aren’t in any rush to offload him. Sesko netted 11 goals from 37 appearances last year in what was a breakthrough season for him.
As lately as July 27th, he fired home the winner in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool, demonstrating his capabilities against a quality side. He put Salzburg in front in the 31st minute, with an exquisite one-two resulting in the decisive goal.
Chelsea haven’t had the joys of a number 9 scoring goals with continuity since Diego Costa departed, but there’s a lot to like when Sesko is compared with the former Spanish international.
More on Sesko…
The Slovenian spent his youth career with clubs in his country before Salzburg scouted him and immediately sent him on loan to FC Liefering. Sesko only scored a solitary goal across 15 appearances in his first season but set the stage on fire with 21 in 29 matches the following season.
Of course, that prompted Salzburg to recall their young gem of a forward. And boy did he repay their trust, grabbing the opportunity whenever called upon in cup competitions.
The 19-year-old has already won 13 caps for his nation, returning with two goals to his credit. He became the youngest player to represent Slovenia after making his debut a day after his 18th birthday.
What will Sesko bring to Chelsea?
There’s a lot to takeaway from his tactical attributes, but above all, Sesko stands tall at 6ft 4in. That titanic frame is accompanied by combative strength and a level of prominence that helps him stand out and win duels.
Obviously, English football is more about the combination of technicality and physicality, but he ticks one of the boxes without fail, if not both yet.
And that makes him close to unbeatable in the air. With regard to the accuracy and movement, it’s bound to come when he gathers more experience and works with different coaches who specialize in attacking set-pieces and crosses.
Sesko also brings a sense of aggression on the pitch. He charges in like a bull, right through the centre of the back line and isn’t afraid to push defenders on the backfoot. Chelsea have missed such an impactful centre-forward since Costa departed.
Whilst the rest of the team is brilliant at keeping the ball, it’s crucial for a player to exhibit the X-factor and break through the lines with something unpredictable.
What makes him absolutely brilliant is the surety in his approach. Sesko is full of heart, he chops the ball from one leg to another, regularly collects the ball in wide areas and deflates the opposition press with this lion-hearted dribbling.
With that said, he’s just as good being a predator in the box. Sesko’s movement is sharp, and with some refining, it can wreak havoc on opponent centre-halves.
How much should Chelsea push for him?
Salzburg has a history of developing world-class forwards, and it’d be a shame if Sesko doesn’t emerge as one in half a decade or so.
Chelsea do have Armando Broja, but with Romelu Lukaku not having worked and the Blues in need of an out-and-out striker, they might as well invest in a striker.
The need of the hour, though, is for Kai Havertz and Broja to provide the firepower they need in front of goal in a crucial season ahead for the Blues.
-Akarshak Roy
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Werner100359. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.