---
title: "Manchester United: Dean Jones says signing Sasa Kalajdzic would be a ‘gamble’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-sasa-kalajdzic-gamble-erik-ten-hag/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-08-15T19:35:31Z"
modified: "2022-08-15T19:35:31Z"
---

# Manchester United: Dean Jones says signing Sasa Kalajdzic would be a ‘gamble’

**Manchester United could spring a surprise by moving for Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic, [transfer insider Dean Jones says](https://www.givemesport.com/88047329-man-utd-taking-gamble-as-crazy-25m-star-wants-old-trafford-move).**

### The lowdown

[The Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11066153/Manchester-United-consider-moves-Stuttgarts-Sasa-Kalajdzic-RB-Salzburgs-Benjamin-Sesko.html) reported on 31 July that United were considering a swoop for Kalajdzic as an alternative to Benjamin Sesko.

Sesko has just moved from Red Bull Salzburg to RB Leipzig for a fee of [£55million](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11094917/RB-Leipzig-confirm-signing-55m-Man-United-target-Benjamin-Sesko-sister-club-Salzburg.html).

And that could now see them towards Kalajdzic, who’s significantly cheaper at just [£17million](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11066153/Manchester-United-consider-moves-Stuttgarts-Sasa-Kalajdzic-RB-Salzburgs-Benjamin-Sesko.html).

### The latest

Jones explains that Tottenham Hotspur considered a swoop for Kalajdzic in the January transfer window but decided he wasn’t ready for the Premier League.

United, then, would be taking a risk by placing their faith in the Austrian just seven months down the line.

*“Kalajdžić, this is probably a little bit of a gamble,” he told [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88047329-man-utd-taking-gamble-as-crazy-25m-star-wants-old-trafford-move).*

*“I mean, Tottenham were looking at signing him at the start of the year.*

*“And that was really a thought process of signing a player who’s good, and has got a lot of potential and would eventually become part of their team, but wasn’t quite ready for it.*

*“So, I’ll be surprised if Man United considered that he was ready to become a serious, significant part of their squad.”*

[Latest Man Utd updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-updates-5/)

### The verdict

Why might be a deal for Kalajdzic be considered dangerous?

Perhaps it’s because he only has [one season of top-level goalscoring under his belt in the top five leagues](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sasa-kalajdzic/leistungsdaten/spieler/369567/plus/0?saison=2020).

Kalajdzic hit 16 in 33 for Stuttgart in the 2020/21 season but was [only able to make 15 appearances last term after sustaining a shoulder injury](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sasa-kalajdzic/leistungsdaten/spieler/369567/plus/0?saison=2021).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398302″\]

In terms of profile, he’s similar to Premier League duo Ivan Toney and Michail Antonio, but his low passing accuracy – just 68% (27th percentile) – could concern United (via [FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/15f24fe7/Sasa-Kalajdzic)). It might suggest that his link-up play leaves a lot to be desired.

Kalajdzic, who [idolises](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/sasa-kalajdzic-who-is-the-vfb-stuttgart-and-austria-striker-peter-crouch-16174) ex-United midfielder Nemanja Matic, says he’s been dubbed a ‘lanky’ striker (via [bundesliga.com](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/sasa-kalajdzic-who-is-the-vfb-stuttgart-and-austria-striker-peter-crouch-16174)).

But even though he’s already 6ft 6in, Dortmund boss Eden Terzic says he can seemingly reach ‘[four or five metres in the air](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/sasa-kalajdzic-who-is-the-vfb-stuttgart-and-austria-striker-peter-crouch-16174)‘. That could make him an almighty aerial weapon if the delivery is right.