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Benjamin Sesko has been given a goal target for the 2026-27 season that should be “written in his contract” at Manchester United, with Dwight Yorke explaining to GOAL why the Slovenian striker can “fly” for the Red Devils. Michael Carrick needs his main finisher to do exactly that if United are to get back into Premier League title contention at Old Trafford.

Sesko could cost Man Utd up to £74m

After several years of searching for a prolific No.9, United turned to Sesko for inspiration in the summer of 2025. A transfer fee of £74 million ($99m) was paid to prise the highly rated forward away from RB Leipzig.

The 23-year-old had a slow beginning to life in English football, and it took until September 27 - and his seventh appearance - for him to open his account. He had managed only two goals before the end of the calendar year, leading to further uneasy questions over whether the Red Devils had backed the right option.

Sesko finished the season in double figures, with the occasional strong run when fully fit and in form, and there is a sense that more is still to come after he finally settled at the so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

Having already shown that he can trouble Premier League defences, the next step is to lift his level again and begin producing personal bests on a regular basis. So far in his club career, Sesko has only passed the 20-goal mark twice.

United need him to go well beyond that figure if they are to become genuine challengers for the biggest trophies - both at home and abroad - with the game’s elite typically delivering at least one goal every other match.

Sesko set goal target for 2026-27 campaign

When asked what kind of numbers Sesko should be delivering, former Red Devils striker Yorke - speaking in association with BOYLE Sports about Sports Betting - told GOAL: “Benjamin Sesko should be scoring 25 goals this season for Manchester United. That’s what he should be able to deliver. He should have that target written down in his contract.

“You do that, you score those goals, you win, you fly, you get your team closer to where you need to be, and he’s capable of doing that. He works his socks off for the team and he’s got all the ingredients and a good presence about himself.”

Will Man Utd sign another striker?

For the moment, United are placing their trust in Sesko, but they are still looking through the market for more options to add to Carrick’s squad. Another goalscorer could still be brought in, which would create extra competition for places, and more attacking depth will be needed to cope across multiple competitions.

Another former Red Devils striker, Louis Saha, recently told GOAL when asked what any further attacking signing must bring: “I would prefer someone like, I don’t know if I’m saying something crazy, but Kylian Mbappe, or someone that style. Where you have someone who’s a bit more like Olivier Giroud for Kylian Mbappe, and you have someone who can circulate around.

“This type of player, this is where Manchester United have always been dangerous. You have Dwight Yorke, who ran around Andy Cole, someone around Ruud van Nistelrooy, and this always worked. Whatever formation, whatever era, this formula works.”

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Qualities that Sesko brings as a No.9

Sesko is a strong physical presence, and he seems to have added more bulk over the summer, so he should be able to play the target-man role for United. If Carrick wants a more mobile forward to work off the towering Slovenian, that could also be a useful option.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, however, are both capable of operating around a central striker - with club captain Bruno Fernandes making forward runs from a deeper playmaking role - and the overall view is that the Red Devils will be more competitive in 2026-27 as they unlock their full potential within a tactical system that suits their strengths.