Sesko faces four-month injury absence as United weigh January striker options

Benjamin Sesko is facing a potential four-month absence through injury, leaving Manchester United with a significant striker shortage and increasing pressure on the club to act in the January transfer window.

The 23-year-old Slovenian forward, who joined United from RB Leipzig for £73.7m, has been troubled by a shin problem for the past six months. A separate fitness issue has further disrupted his availability over the last five weeks, and fears are growing that he will not play again until February at the earliest.

Manager Michael Carrick confirmed that a clearer picture of Sesko’s prognosis is expected shortly. “We’re hoping really soon that we’ll have a clear picture. I’m not trying to delay it,” Carrick said. “Maybe not tomorrow, but by the end of the week, we’ll have something a little bit clearer. There’s a bit of work going on at the moment, so we’ll see what comes out of that.”

The timing is particularly awkward for United given the club chose not to sign a back-up striker in the summer. With Rasmus Hojlund having joined Napoli on a permanent £38m deal after the Italian club’s Champions League qualification triggered a purchase obligation, United’s options through the middle are limited.

That leaves Joshua Zirkzee as the primary alternative, despite the Dutchman having famously described himself as a “number 9.5” — a player whose attributes sit between a classic centre-forward and a creative No. 10. United attempted to sell Zirkzee in the summer, making his likely increased role an uncomfortable necessity.

Sesko has contributed two goals in six appearances across all competitions this season, including a header in the 2-2 draw at Everton and a strike in the 4-0 win over Sabah. He scored 12 goals in his debut campaign following the move from Leipzig.

United have also been linked with a move for Troy Parrott, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker who has impressed on loan at Real Betis this season, as the club explores potential short-term solutions to their attacking depth problem.