Manchester United's summer search for a new striker culminated in a data-led decision to pursue Benjamin Sesko ahead of the heavily linked Viktor Gyokeres, with the club's internal analysis pointing to the Slovenian as the ideal fit.
The Data-Driven Decision
The Red Devils were determined to bolster their attacking options and assessed several profiles before narrowing their focus. While Viktor Gyokeres and his prolific history under Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon created inevitable links, it was United's analytical approach that ultimately steered them away from the Swede, who later joined Arsenal.
According to a report from The Times, a key metric that swayed the decision was running metres, an area of specific growth targeted by the club. This data-centric strategy is being spearheaded by Mike Sansoni, the club's newly appointed director of data who joined after an 11-year tenure with the Mercedes Formula 1 team.
The Mastermind Behind the Strategy
Sansoni works closely with technical director Jason Wilcox and is leading a major push to transform United into what is described internally as a “fully data-driven club which will lead to success on and off the pitch.” He has access to sophisticated data models capable of evaluating tens of thousands of players, and the club believes they are now among the leaders in this field.
This belief in their analytical process gave them the confidence to secure Sesko for £74million, following a transfer battle with Newcastle United. Beyond the numbers, the club also viewed the player's clear desire to join as a significant advantage. Both Sesko and other targets like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha showed a strong willingness to move to Old Trafford.
Early Days and Managerial Confidence
The early returns have been modest, with Sesko finding the net only twice for his new club. Interestingly, Gyokeres has faced similar criticism at Arsenal after a slow start that has yielded four goals. However, the concerns from outside the club are not shared by those within the Manchester United hierarchy.
Manager Ruben Amorim, who also coached Gyokeres in Lisbon, acknowledges that his young striker will be worried about his form but remains unequivocally confident. “I'm relaxed, he's not relaxed,” Amorim stated. “I understand how things are in football and he's going to struggle. That is normal. He has no experience here.”
He further elaborated on Sesko's character and potential, noting, “Ben is a young kid, a control freak. He wants to control everything - and he's not going to control everything. He has more potential than I was thinking... I'm quite relaxed with that. He is going to be our striker for the long term but he's going to have these struggles and these bumps during the ride. That is a normal thing in football.”
Despite the early pressure, the club's conviction, built on a foundation of in-depth analysis, suggests they are playing a long game with their prized summer acquisition.
