Tom Hamilton
RB Leipzig has been approached with offers for striker Benjamin Sesco from both Manchester United and Newcastle United.
Newcastle’s initial proposal was in the vicinity of £65.4 million ($86.8 million), plus an additional £4.3 million in bonuses, which was the first bid rejected last week by the Slovenia international. They have now improved their offer to £69.7 million.
Reports indicate that Manchester United is evaluating a bid that aligns closely with Newcastle’s latest offer.
Sources note that United is financially equipped to make a competitive offer for Sesko after loaning Marcus Rashford to Barcelona and receiving an additional £20 million from prior deals.
Despite this, their budget is said to be “strained,” making them hesitant to enter a bidding war with Newcastle.
Sesko was absent from Leipzig’s team for a friendly against Atalanta, contemplating whether to move to Old Trafford, St. James’ Park, or remain at Red Bull Arena long-term.
Leaked sources mention that United feels confident about securing Sesko if it boils down to a direct choice between the two Premier League teams.
If Newcastle successfully signs Sesko—who has 41 caps for Slovenia and netted 21 goals in 45 appearances across all Leipzig competitions last season—it could significantly affect the future of striker Alexander Isak.
Additionally, sources report that Newcastle has rejected a £110 million offer from Liverpool for Swedish international Isak.
Isak returned to Tyneside on Monday for discussions with manager Eddie Howe after a preseason tour in Singapore and South Korea.
Howe is also interested in Brentford’s Ioan Wissa, and successfully acquiring one or both forwards could influence Isak’s future.
If Howe is happy with Isak’s commitment, Newcastle aims to extend his contract until the summer of 2028, following a season in which he scored 23 goals in 34 Premier League starts.
– “Very Uncertain” regarding Alexander Isak’s transfer status
– Premier League preseason: fixtures by club, kickoff times, results
– Premier League 2025-26 Kits: Ranking all jerseys released so far
Meanwhile, ESPN has reported that Leipzig is still awaiting an offer for Dutch international Xabi Simons amid Chelsea’s reported interest.
Simons completed his permanent transfer to Leipzig in January after a loan from Paris Saint-Germain last season, tallying 11 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances during the 2024-25 season.
Contributions to this report came from PA, ESPN’s Rob Dawson, Mark Ogden, and James Ollie
Fan Take: The pursuit of Benjamin Sesco illustrates the intense competition among Premier League clubs for top talent, which not only raises the stakes for transfers but also enhances the overall quality of the league. Soccer fans should keep a close eye on these developments, as they could significantly influence both club dynamics and league standings.
