Manchester United's Sesko No.9 plan revealed! Carrick confirms he is not for sale, rejecting approaches from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has told the club that Benjamin Sesko is a crucial part of the future and is not up for sale. Both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, looking for new forwards, approached via intermediaries, but their advances were firmly rejected.

Sesko joined Manchester United from RB Leipzig last summer for €85 million (£74 million). The 23-year-old Slovenia international started slowly but finished strongly, topping the Premier League scoring charts in the second half of the season. He ended the campaign as the club's top scorer with 11 goals and one assist in the league.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk revealed that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have indeed made contact regarding a possible move for Sesko. Both clubs face uncertainty over the future of Argentine forward Julian Alvarez and therefore tasked intermediaries with inquiring about players like Sesko.

If Barcelona cannot secure Alvarez, Sesko is one of the potential alternatives. Earlier, Real Madrid had a £129 million bid for Alvarez rejected by Atletico Madrid, making it extremely difficult to land the "Little Spider."

At the same time, if Atletico sell Alvarez, they would need a replacement, although they insist the player will not leave. Atletico also have their eyes on Sesko, but like Barcelona, they have been rebuffed by Manchester United, who have stated they will not sell him under any circumstances.

Bailey said: "Carrick's influence is a major factor. It is understood that the newly appointed permanent United manager highly regards Sesko and sees him as a core figure in his long-term plan at Old Trafford. Sources also indicate that Sesko shares the same sentiment toward Carrick."

Those close to Sesko say he "really enjoys" playing under Carrick and has appreciated the freedom and trust given to him since Carrick took over. This strong bond only strengthens United's resolve to keep him.

It is reported that Manchester United will change Sesko's squad number for the new season, switching him from No. 30 to No. 9. The jersey previously belonged to Rasmus Hojlund, who has permanently transferred to Serie A side Napoli. Napoli triggered a €44 million buyout clause after qualifying for the Champions League, completing the deal.

A key factor in United wanting Sesko to wear No. 9 is commercial considerations. Two years ago, when Hojlund took the No. 9 shirt, his jersey sales became the highest at the club. Unfortunately, his performance dipped the following season, scoring only four Premier League goals.

Nevertheless, the No. 9 shirt holds a glorious history at Manchester United. In the Premier League era, top scorers like Andy Cole, Dimitar Berbatov, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have worn it. Earlier, legends such as Bobby Charlton also donned the No. 9 jersey.

According to The Athletic, during last summer's transfer negotiations, United's transfer director Christopher Vivell and head of negotiations Matt Hargreaves showed Sesko a video featuring his goals and images of him wearing the No. 9 United shirt at Old Trafford. Sesko was also given a No. 9 shirt with his name on it. He tried it on, looked down at the United badge, and said it was exactly what he wanted. However, out of respect for Hojlund, who was still at the club, Sesko ultimately chose No. 30. United had already planned to give him No. 9 once Hojlund left.

Sesko has not yet confirmed whether he will accept the No. 9 shirt. His career has not been closely associated with that number. He wore No. 30 at both RB Leipzig and Salzburg, No. 21 while on loan at Liefering, and No. 11 for the Slovenian national team. Records show he only wore No. 9 during his time with Slovenia's U17 team.

Manchester United will consider signing a backup center-forward this summer to rotate with Sesko. Brighton's Danny Welbeck remains a popular option, while Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, is also a good fit. Both have only one year left on their contracts. Welbeck scored 13 Premier League goals last season, while Mateta netted 12.

However, even without a new striker, Carrick is not short of options. Last season, Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo often played as a center-forward, and at the recent World Cup, Brazilian international Matheus Cunha also wore the No. 9 shirt and played as a striker for the Seleção.