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MANCHESTER: Manchester United signed Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko on Saturday in an attempt to bounce back from their worst season in the Premier League era.

United paid Leipzig a fee that could reach 85 million euros ($99 million) for the 22-year-old Sesko, who signed a five-year contract.

Sesko is the third forward United have signed this offseason after a lack of goals last term saw the 20-time English champion record their lowest finish in the modern era when they placed 15th, just three places above the relegation zone.

His arrival follows the signings of forward Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as coach Ruben Amorim has prioritized revamping his attack ahead of his first full season in charge.

“The history of Manchester United is obviously very special but what really excites me is the future,” Sesko said in the team’s announcement.

“When we discussed the project,” he added, “it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon.”

Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scored just 18 goals between them in all competitions last term as United fell to a club-record 18 losses in the Premier League era and their lowest points total of 42.

Only four teams scored fewer goals than United in the top flight last term — including the three relegated clubs.

Sesko has been compared to former Paris Saint-Germain and United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic because of his height — both are 1.95 meters (6 feet, 5 inches) tall — and flashes of technical skill. He has proved he is capable of scoring spectacular goals, but his statistics for Leipzig have been modest after two years in Germany.

He scored 14 goals in his first season with the club and followed that with 13 last term.

Sesko has six goals in 28 Champions League games for Leipzig and his previous club Salzburg. He’s tallied 16 goals in 41 games for Slovenia.

“Benjamin possesses a rare combination of electrifying pace and the ability to physically dominate defenders, making him one of the most exceptional young talents in world football,” said Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football.

“We have followed Benjamin’s career closely,” he added. “All of our data analysis and research concluded that he has the required qualities and personality to thrive at Manchester United.”

The move for Sesko comes after United’s reported interest in Liam Delap, Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins.

Sesko is unproven in England, but Cunha and Mbeumo are tried and tested in the Premier League.

Mbeumo scored 20 league goals for Brentford last season, with only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland netting more. Cunha scored 17 in all competitions and helped Wolves avoid relegation last term.

ZIMBABWE: New Zealand completed a crushing win by an innings and 359 runs on the third day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.

Zak Foulkes, playing in his first Test match, took five for 37 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 117 in their second innings.

Nic Welch, batting at number three, made an unbeaten 47 and stood virtually alone against the New Zealand pace attack.

It was the third-biggest win by an innings in Test history.

England beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs at The Oval in London in 1938. Australia defeated South Africa by an innings and 360 runs in Johannesburg in 2001/02.

“We bowled well in the first innings after losing the toss,” said Mitch Santner, who captained New Zealand in both Tests in the absence of the injured Tom Latham.

“And the batsmen got through some tough periods with their partnerships and then cashed in.”

New Zealand’s previous biggest win — and Zimbabwe’s previous heaviest defeat — was by an innings and 301 runs when the two teams met in Napier in 2011/12.

Zimbabwe suffered their sixth successive defeat — four of them by an innings — since beating Bangladesh in Sylhet in April.

New Zealand declared their first innings closed on their overnight total of 601 for three.

It took only three balls for Matt Henry to start the home team’s collapse when he bowled Brian Bennett for his second duck of the match.

Henry had Brendan Taylor caught at second slip and Jacob Duffy caught Sean Williams off his own bowling before Matthew Fisher had Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine held at third slip.

Foulkes, who briefly returned to New Zealand after a triangular Twenty20 series but was recalled after Nathan Smith was injured in the first Test, took the next five wickets.

Foulkes had match figures of nine for 77.

Devon Conway, who scored 153 for New Zealand, was player of the match while Henry, who took 16 wickets across the two matches, was player of the series.