Sesko's Form Sparks Chelsea Regrets as Fernandes Backs Hungry Striker

Benjamin Sesko has gone from struggling to find his feet at Manchester United to becoming a clinical finisher, and Chelsea are reportedly ruing the one that got away.

The Slovenian striker arrived at Old Trafford for £74m from RB Leipzig as part of a summer spending spree that saw the club splash roughly £200m on attacking reinforcements. Mbeumo and Cunha also joined the ranks, but Sesko's start proved decidedly underwhelming—just two goals in all competitions by January under Ruben Amorim's watch.

Enter Michael Carrick, and everything shifted. Since taking over, the interim boss has presided over a remarkable upturn in the 24-year-old's fortunes. Three goals in his last three matches, seven in his last eight outings. Suddenly, Sesko looks like the acquisition United banked on.

That resurgence has evidently stirred memories at Stamford Bridge. According to reports, Chelsea were willing to hand Sesko virtually a blank cheque back in 2022 to bring him to west London. Christopher Vivell, now at Chelsea, knew the player intimately from his seven years within the Red Bull ecosystem and was instrumental in the club's pursuit. The level of desperation was such that sources claim the Blues offered their target "whatever he wanted"—a gambit that ultimately failed.

"He's a very good player, we just wanted to get his confidence," Bruno Fernandes told Sky Sports, reflecting on Sesko's transformation. The United captain emphasised that his teammate harbours no complacency whatsoever. "He is a kid that wants to improve. He is never just happy with a goal. He is very aware that he needs to score week in, week out for this club."

Fernandes suggested there remains room for further improvement as the season winds down, hinting at the striker's relentless hunger for more.

Former United chief scout Mick Brown attributes much of Sesko's blossoming to Carrick's tactical adjustments. "At the start of the season he looked a little bit shy and not as combative as you want your striker to be, but he's really grown and adapted to the league," Brown told Football Insider. "A large part of it is because of the changes Carrick has made since taking over from Amorim, they're not afraid to get the ball forward and into the box quicker."

Brown highlighted Sesko's aerial prowess as a particular asset, something United have lacked in recent seasons. The willingness of his teammates to deliver crosses has coincided with his goalscoring flourish, creating a virtuous cycle.

With Carrick having won six of his opening seven matches, rumblings suggest several squad members—Sesko included—are eager to see the interim manager offered the job permanently. The improving results and restored morale represent precisely the kind of foundation a permanent appointment could be built upon.