Benjamin Sesko, the young striker for RB Leipzig, has become a prime target for both Manchester United and Newcastle United as the transfer window heats up. The 22-year-old Slovenian forward has found the back of the net 39 times in 87 appearances since arriving in Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg. Now, he’s the fulcrum of furious back-and-forth negotiations between two English Premier League clubs.
Manchester United, meanwhile, has submitted a bid of just under £74 million (€85 million) to seal Sesko’s signing. Newcastle are increasingly confident of landing the forward. Their latest £69.7 million, plus add-ons, makes them a very serious contender as they trump the initial second bid. This is on top of Newcastle’s first bid of a little below £70 million (€80 million), showing they are really focused on getting Sesko.
RB Leipzig are already exploring alternatives in case they lose Sesko. Speculation linking them to Rasmus Hojlund and potential loan moves has been swirling. His absence from Leipzig’s recent pre-season friendly against Atalanta raises the curtains and the odds of his departure being close to happening.
Newcastle’s Struggles in the Transfer Market
Newcastle United hasn’t had the best of fortunes in this transfer window, having lost out on a number of their main targets. They faced rejection from targets such as Hugo Ekitike and Joao Pedro who chose to sign for other clubs even when Newcastle chased them down.
“There has been a long list of players that they have got quite far down in terms of negotiations with, only to find that they choose to go elsewhere.”
The club’s internal assessments indicate that if Manchester United finalizes its offer, it may strengthen Sesko’s inclination toward Old Trafford. Keith Downie reported on Newcastle’s latest crisis, saying, “Newcastle look totally defeated right now.”
“Newcastle have been internally concerned that if Manchester United come to the table, Sesko favours a move to Old Trafford.”
Urgency is something that we, as Newcastle, can feel very acutely. Second, they don’t want to miss their opportunity to build a deeper squad ahead of the new season.
Manchester United’s Position
Manchester United see Sesko as an important long-term addition to their attacking core. His excellent goal scoring record of 15 assists makes him a valuable bid asset. With his trajectory, he would be a savvy long-term investment for the club. From off Manchester United’s camp, optimism is sky-high. They think Sesko might even be seduced by the opportunity to play for one of football’s most storied clubs.
According to those same sources, Sesko himself is said to be open to the projects of both clubs. But others say he is more likely to go to Manchester United because of the club’s prestige, winning tradition and historical importance in the sport.
“One source maintains that the player favours a move to Manchester United.”
If that’s the case, it sounds like Manchester United might have a leg up in this transfer tug-o-war.
The Decision Ahead
As negotiations drag on, RB Leipzig is undertaking an internal assessment of each and every offer, including those from Newcastle and Manchester United. The club is continuing to look at the overall structure of any transfer fee paid. They reportedly are negotiating for a starting fee of about £65 million, plus performance-based add-ons that might reach as much as £8.9 million (€75 million + €10 million).
Keith Downie noted that Leipzig may allow Sesko to ultimately decide his future:
“It feels, from the noises we are hearing, that Leipzig will leave it up to the player to decide.”
With the transfer window closing fast, both clubs are preparing for a dogfight. As you can tell those folks are REALLY ALL-IN on landing Sesko.
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