Newcastle United Escalate Sesko Pursuit with Enhanced Bid as Isak Rumors Swirl and Man Utd Circle
Newcastle United have submitted a fresh proposal to Bundesliga club RB Leipzig for Benjamin Šeško while Alexander Isak's future at the club continues to be in doubt.
The Tyneside club initially made an approach worth €75 million (£65.3 million, $86.4 million) with an additional €5 million (£4.4 million, $5.8 million) in performance-related bonuses, but Leipzig rejected the proposal. The latest attempt increases the base amount to a minimum of €80 million (£69.6 million, $92.5 million), according to The Athletic.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the package includes a further €10 million (£8.7 million, $11.5 million) in potential add-ons.
Manchester United maintain their interest in the Slovenian striker, however they have yet to submit a formal offer. Additionally, the club has reportedly shown reluctance to match the financial levels outlined in Newcastle's proposals, potentially giving the Magpies an advantage in securing Šeško's signature this transfer window.
Šeško had previously been connected with Arsenal during the early part of the summer, but the Gunners opted for a different approach by acquiring Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon. This left Šeško's situation uncertain as his representatives had been in discussions with Arsenal for more than twelve months. The financial demands were ultimately considered excessive by the north London outfit, according to The Athletic.
Man Utd had also pursued Gyökeres given the Swedish striker's previous experience under manager Ruben Amorim in Portugal. Following Arsenal's confirmation of the signing, Man Utd appeared to shift their focus toward the Slovenian. The Red Devils have identified Šeško as their top priority should they decide to recruit a striker during this transfer period.
Newcastle, meanwhile, find themselves experiencing what club icon Alan Shearer has described as a 'catastrophic' transfer window. The team have completed the permanent signing of Anthony Elanga and secured Aaron Ramsdale on a temporary basis, though discussions have largely revolved around Isak's potential departure. Liverpool made an approach for the striker which Newcastle promptly rejected. The Merseyside club may submit an improved offer later in the window, but speculation regarding the loss of their key goalscorer has dampened spirits before their return to Champions League competition.
The Magpies had also shown interest in Hugo Ekitiké before the French striker completed his move to Liverpool.
Šeško remains tied to Leipzig until 2029 with a rumored clause allowing departure for a suitable project. He netted 21 goals across all competitions in the previous campaign, and one potential scenario this summer involves remaining in the German top flight should Leipzig refuse to agree terms with interested clubs.