Newcastle have reportedly submitted an offer to RB Leipzig for striker Benjamin Sesko worth €80million.
The proposal, which went in over the past 24 hours, includes €75m as an initial fee and a further €5m in performance-related bonuses.
The Magpies’ move for Sesko comes as speculation continues to surround Alexander Isak’s future.
The 22-year-old Slovenia international has long been on Newcastle’s radar, and appears to be a priority target if Isak were to leave St James’ Park during this transfer window.
Liverpool are determined to bring in Isak this summer and recently saw a formal £110m bid rejected. The Premier League champions, however, remain keen on the 25-year-old Swede.
Interest from Other Clubs
While Newcastle have made the first concrete move, they are not alone in the race for Sesko.
Manchester United are also strongly considering an approach, with the forward yet to make a final decision on where he wants to play next season.
Earlier in the summer, Arsenal were monitoring Sesko but switched focus to another Scandinavian forward, Viktor Gyokeres, who joined them last month for a total fee of €63.5m plus €10m in add-ons.
Chelsea, too, have admired Sesko for years, but they opted to strengthen their attack with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro instead.
The Slovenian forward only joined Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg in 2023. Since then, he has registered 39 goals and eight assists in 87 appearances for the Bundesliga club.
Last year, he signed a contract extension until 2029. While the deal does not include a formal release clause, it is widely believed there is a gentleman’s agreement that Leipzig would not block a move if the right sporting project and offer came along.
Sesko’s previous contract had contained a €65m release clause.
On the international stage, Sesko has already become a talisman for Slovenia. He made his senior debut the day after turning 18 and has gone on to earn 41 caps, scoring 16 goals. He was part of his country’s squad at Euro 2024.
The Bigger Picture for Newcastle
For Newcastle, the pursuit of Sesko represents both ambition and a backup plan.
Should they lose Isak, the young Leipzig striker is seen as the perfect replacement. However, the Tyneside club also view him as a player who could develop alongside Isak if the Swede ultimately remains.
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2025-08-02 12:07:31
