Newcastle have tabled an official club-record bid for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.
Despite securing Champions League football under Eddie Howe last season the Magpies have endured a difficult start to the transfer window.
The club’s previous record arrival, Alexander Isak, appears to be intent on departing the North East this summer, with Premier League champions Liverpool his most likely destination.
With their top goalscorer potentially on his way out of the club, in recent weeks Newcastle earmarked the Slovenian international Sesko as a potential replacement.
Amid competition from Manchester United for the 24-year-old’s signature, on Saturday the club made an official bid for Sesko comprising of a £65.5million up-front fee plus an additional £4.4m in add-ons.
United’s interest has been led by director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, who previously worked with Sesko at RB Salzburg and described the 6ft 4in forward as having the potential to become one of the world’s leading players.
Newcastle have made a club-record bid for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko
The club have offered a package worth £69.9million for the Slovenia international – who is also a target for Manchester United
The offer comes with Alexander Isak’s future still uncertain amid interest from Liverpool
The Old Trafford club are said to have named Sesko their No 1 target in recent weeks, having previously been linked with a move for Aston Villa marksman Ollie Watkins.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal had also been keeping tabs on Sesko as part of their own hunt for a new striker the Gunners ultimately moved for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.
However, reports from Sesko’s native Slovenia claimed on Friday that Sesko would prefer a move to St James’ Park this summer.
Meanwhile Isak is believed to be pushing for a move and has been training alone at former club Real Sociedad, having pulled out of the Magpies’ pre-season tour with an apparent thigh issue.
Howe admitted this week that he had not been made aware of Isak’s plans to return to the Basque club for rehabilitation and that he had instead found out through media reports.
‘I know where he is, really, through the media,’ Howe told Mail Sport as Newcastle stopped in Seoul as part of their pre-season tour.
‘From that perspective, it’s difficult for me to go into any kind of detail. The situation is far from ideal and is quite complex.’
Mail Sport revealed on Friday that Liverpool had a £110m bid for Isak rejected, with Newcastle holding out for £150m.
Isak is currently Newcastle’s most expensive signing after joining the club from Real Sociedad in 2022
And the 25-year-old is currently back training at his former club as he attempts to force through a move to Merseyside
The offer is understood to have confused the Newcastle camp, particularly given the figure offered was £10m less than what they had offered informally last month.
Liverpool have subsequently said that the nature of the rebuttal means they will not be returning with a second offer, even though they would have known the approach was going to be rejected.
Newcastle are believed to value their prize asset – who has netted 54 Premier League goals since arriving in 2022 – at closer to £150m.
Of the rejected offer, Howe said: ‘I was made aware of a bid yesterday (Friday) and that bid was turned down, all before I’d even heard about it.
‘People back in England are dealing with the situation. I 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.’
Newcastle have made clear that no sale will go ahead unless a suitable replacement is secured — and Sesko has long been top of their wishlist.
The Bundesliga side signed Sesko from Red Bull Salzburg in 2023 and have an informal agreement to allow him to leave if a suitable offer is made.
Sesko scored 21 goals in all competitions last season and has netted 16 times in 41 senior appearances for his country.
He has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland for his blend of height, pace and technical ability — and is seen by Newcastle as a ready-made replacement should Isak get his wish.
