Sesko Set For EPL As Newcastle And Man Utd Battle For Striker

Benjamin Sesko is a target for both Newcastle and Manchester United this summer; Newcastle have made a formal bid for the RB Leipzig forward, which matches the Bundesliga club’s valuation; Man Utd remain in the mix with Leipzig keen on Rasmus Hojlund on loan

Newcastle have made a formal bid to RB Leipzig for striker Benjamin Sesko.

Sky Sports News understands the offer is €75m (£65.5m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons – which matches Leipzig’s valuation.

Newcastle have presented their vision to the Slovenian striker and want the deal to happen.

According to Sky in Germany, Sesko will be absent from RB Leipzig’s pre-season friendly with Atalanta due to his imminent departure from the club. The striker has reportedly told his team-mates that he will be leaving.

Sesko is considering his options with Manchester United also at the table. The player is open to both projects.

The bid comes with Newcastle braced for a second offer from Liverpool for Alexander Isak.

The Magpies are also interested in Yoane Wissa, who is not part of Brentford’s squad for their friendly against QPR on Saturday as he pushes for a move.

What is the latest on Man Utd’s Sesko pursuit?
Sesko remains a top target for Manchester United. It was thought Man Utd would have to make sales in order to bring in a striker.

While the priority is to offload players, it is understood Man Utd can buy before selling provided there are sales before the window closes.

It is understood RB Leipzig are interested in Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund and have explored the conditions of a loan.

What now for Liverpool’s Isak pursuit?
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe confirmed the club rejected a bid from Liverpool for Isak, but is unsure on what will happen next.

Sky Sports News understands Liverpool’s opening offer for Isak was £110m plus add-ons. However, the total offer did not reach £120m. Newcastle are braced for a second offer.

Isak is due back in Newcastle on Saturday following his personal training camp in Spain.

The Newcastle striker has been training at Real Sociedad’s training headquarters on his own, after refusing to travel with Newcastle on their pre-season tour of Asia.

Isak reported a thigh injury and travelled to San Sebastián to recover with his own staff.

Eddie Howe said on Saturday morning in South Korea that he found out Isak had travelled to Spain via the media.

“From my situation I am very much removed from what was happening back home,” Howe said in a press conference ahead of facing Tottenham on Sunday in South Korea.

Eddie Howe spoke about the situation surrounding striker Alexander Isak
“I was made aware of a bid yesterday and that bid was turned down all before I even heard about it. People back in England are dealing with the situation.

“I really don’t know what happens next. From our perspective, we still support Alex in every way, and my wish is that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.

“It is difficult because you don’t know what is going to happen. There can be all sorts of talk and hypothetical situations but then you are dealing with reality.

“The reality is we had the first bid from Liverpool yesterday. I believe that was turned down, from this point onwards let’s see what happens.

“I have no idea to try to predict that. In terms of trying to upset players, from my perspective, we can only talk about us, we try to do things the right way, signing players is always complex, we just try to do what we think is right. I can’t talk about other clubs, that is not for me to say.”

Howe: We only want the best targets
Howe has added Newcastle are only “looking for the best” in terms of transfer targets amid a challenging window for the club.

Not only have the Magpies been hit with Isak’s desire to leave, but they have also missed out on a number of transfer targets to rivals, including Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and James Trafford.

Newcastle have also hit a roadblock in their pursuit of Wissa after having a £25m bid knocked back.

With Callum Wilson departing earlier this summer, it leaves just Will Osula as their only recognised first-team striker on their pre-season tour of Asia.

“We’re looking for the best players that we can get,” said Howe. “Whatever our target position is, we’re looking for the best so I see all situations open and available to us.

“I feel that’s the only way that we’re going to get to where we want to go, which is to maximise, and it’s quality over quantity. It always has been. That’s always been the way that we try to work and the way that we try to recruit, and I think we’ve done it pretty well to this point.

“It’s been a challenging summer, because we’ve missed out on various targets for loads of different reasons, but we’re still very competitive, and we’re still in there trying to bring very good players to the club – and that won’t change til the window shuts.”