Yorke urges Man United to keep Chido Obi as Sesko's back-up rather than chase new signing

Dwight Yorke has urged Manchester United to hand academy striker Chido Obi a first-team role next season rather than pursue an expensive back-up for Benjamin Sesko in the summer window.

Sesko, 23, arrived from RB Leipzig last summer and endured a difficult start to life in the Premier League before finding his feet under interim manager Michael Carrick. The Slovenia international scored five goals in seven appearances after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal in January, finishing the campaign with 11 Premier League goals before a late-season injury cut his first year short. He is expected to start United’s opening Premier League fixture at Hull City next month.

With Joshua Zirkzee potentially leaving before the transfer window closes and Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha likely needed in wider positions, United’s options at centre-forward are limited. Yorke acknowledged the problem is a real one, but argued the market offers no easy fix.

“A back-up for Benjamin Sesko? You do need that, but I’m not sure who you could sign to add depth as a No.9 because the players who are good enough are going to want to play,” Yorke said. “The problem is, if Sesko gets injured, there is always that opportunity for someone else to fit in, but you won’t be able to offer someone all those games all season.”

The former United striker pointed to Obi as the ready-made answer already inside the building. “Why not Chido Obi? You’ve got people already at the club who are highly rated — you’ve just got to integrate them into the squad,” Yorke said. “That’s the only way you’re going to bring him on as a player, because everybody needs a little bit of a chance.”

Yorke was critical of the idea of sending the youngster out on loan and waiting to see how he performs elsewhere before committing to him. “I’m baffled by this idea that you wait and wait and wait, hoping he’ll have a remarkable season on loan for someone else before you give him a chance,” he said. “Michael Carrick, as the manager, will be able to see that and bring him in and keep him around the first team. He needs a few games here and there in the cups or against teams where you can make changes — that’s the best way for him to develop.”

Cunha was also cited as a short-term option at the tip of the attack, though Yorke cautioned that relying on him as a central striker for an extended run would not be sustainable given United’s broader squad needs.