Report: Ruben Amorim Hints at January Transfer Activity After Sesko Injury Worry
Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur may have felt like a step forward in resilience, but for manager Ruben Amorim it brought a fresh dilemma. Benjamin Sesko, who entered as a second-half substitute, was forced off after just 30 minutes with a knee injury, leaving United to finish the match with ten men.
Amorim addressed the situation after the match, expressing concern over the severity of the problem. “We have to check,” he said. “He had something in his knee, let’s see.” When pressed on whether the injury was serious, the Portuguese coach admitted, “I have no idea. Because it’s the knee, we never know.”
It was a moment that underlined how precarious United’s forward line has become. Sesko’s early promise has been punctuated by inconsistency and fitness setbacks, and his manager’s uncertainty reflected a wider unease.
Possible January Market Moves
With the Africa Cup of Nations approaching in December, Amorim faces losing key players including Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui. That looming disruption could force United’s hand in the transfer market. Amorim acknowledged that a proactive approach might be required depending on the outcome of Sesko’s medical assessment.
“We have to check everything, we have to check what has happened with Ben,” Amorim said. “Of course, we are going to have a problem there [with AFCON], but we already knew. Then you can prepare that in the summer, but then you have a lot of players in the summer who are not going to play because it’s one game per week. So the management of that situation is going to be hard.”
He later added, “But let’s see when the window is open, if we can improve the team and try to prepare something that happened. Until then, we have to take the chance.”
It was a telling admission from a manager who, since arriving at Old Trafford, has balanced optimism with realism. Amorim’s willingness to adapt, rather than overreact, may shape United’s mid-season plans.
Confidence Not A Concern for Sesko
Sesko’s performance before his withdrawal offered mixed signs. He missed two promising chances against Spurs, yet Amorim was quick to defend his young striker’s mentality. “No, I think… I think that is not the biggest concern now,” Amorim explained.
He continued, “That happened in the same way that he is not scoring and then he scores two goals in the next two games [Brentford and Sunderland], so that happens, especially with a striker. I’m more concerned with an injury because it’s in the knee and I don’t know. We need Ben to be a better team.”
For Amorim, the bigger picture is maintaining consistency through adversity. His measured tone suggests that while reinforcements might come in January, his belief in the current group remains strong.
United’s upcoming fixtures and potential absentees will test their depth across all positions. Amorim’s project, still in its early stages, has been built on tactical control and collective belief rather than star power. However, with the squad already stretched, a dip into the January market seems increasingly probable.
Whether United pursue an experienced forward or another versatile attacker may depend on the diagnosis of Sesko’s injury. Either way, Amorim’s pragmatic approach continues to shape a squad still finding its rhythm under his guidance.
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From a Manchester United fan’s perspective, Amorim’s calmness under pressure is reassuring, but the concern around depth remains real. The club’s injury luck seems to have turned sour again just when consistency was beginning to return. Losing Sesko, even temporarily, highlights how little margin for error exists up front.
Many supporters will feel that a January signing is not just a possibility but a necessity. The likely absences of Mbeumo, Amad and Mazraoui for AFCON will further expose gaps in the squad. Amorim’s comments about summer planning sound logical, yet fans know that logic alone will not score goals.
The manager’s belief in developing his players, rather than rushing to buy, fits his long-term vision. However, United’s fanbase has been patient for too long. After seasons of false dawns, there is a growing feeling that the club must seize momentum rather than risk another mid-season slump.
If Sesko’s injury sidelines him for more than a few weeks, a new forward must arrive in January. For a club of United’s stature, relying purely on internal solutions would be a gamble too far. Supporters will hope Amorim’s words about “improving the team” translate into decisive action when the window opens.