Newcastle United has increased their bid for striker Benjamin Sesko to £69.7 million (€80 million), according to reports from Sky in Germany. This latest offer comes after their initial bid of £65.3 million, which included an additional £4.36 million (€5 million) in performance-based bonuses. The club has been engaged in discussions with RB Leipzig over the terms of the deal and has now made a more competitive offer.
The pursuit of Sesko has intensified, especially with Manchester United also preparing to submit a formal offer for the player. Reports indicate that United has been in negotiations with Leipzig regarding their potential valuation of the striker. While Sesko appears open to both opportunities, sources suggest he may lean towards a transfer to Manchester United if an agreement can be reached.
United’s interest in Sesko complicates the future of Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford. The club is reportedly open to suitable offers for the young striker, who has started two of their four pre-season matches and scored in a recent victory over Bournemouth. Despite the competition for a new striker, the club is also considering the possibility of acquiring players before making sales, provided those sales happen before the transfer window closes.
On the other hand, RB Leipzig has shown interest in Hojlund and is exploring the option of a loan deal as part of discussions concerning Sesko. The managing director for sport at Leipzig, Marcel Schafer, confirmed that several clubs have expressed strong interest in Sesko, stating, “We won’t go into detail on that but when I say that several clubs have shown strong interest and made approaches, it’s obvious what has happened.”
In addition to Sesko, Newcastle is also pursuing Yoane Wissa from Brentford. Wissa did not participate in Brentford’s recent friendly against QPR, indicating his potential desire for a move. Newcastle’s initial £25 million bid for Wissa was rejected, but the striker has expressed his interest in joining the Magpies.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe emphasized the club’s focus on acquiring top players, stating, “We’re looking for the best players that we can get.” He acknowledged that the summer transfer window has been challenging, with the club missing out on several targets, including Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, and James Trafford. With the departure of Callum Wilson to West Ham, Newcastle’s options for a No. 9 striker have become limited, leaving only Will Osula as a backup to Isak.
Howe continued, “I feel that’s the only way that we’re going to get to where we want to go, which is to maximize, and it’s quality over quantity.” He reassured fans that the club remains competitive in its efforts to bring in high-quality players before the window closes.
As the transfer window progresses, the next few weeks will be critical for both Newcastle United and Manchester United, as they aim to finalize their attacking line-ups ahead of the new season.
