'Totally understand why Isak wants to explore his options - we're stagnant'
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Daily Mirror
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Benjamin Sesko set 48-hour deadline as Newcastle have no plans to replicate Man Utd deal
Newcastle United have reportedly informed RB Leipzig of a deadline in terms of their interest in a possible move for striker Benjamin Sesko, who is also a target for Manchester United Newcastle United have provided a 48-hour deadline regarding their interest in Benjamin Sesko. Eddie Howe's side have identified the RB Leipzig striker as a target as the club look to add reinforcements in attack. The Magpies, who are preparing for a Champions League campaign, currently have limited options up front. First-choice striker Alexander Isak has been the subject of a rejected bid worth up to £120million from Liverpool, while the expiry of Callum Wilson 's contract leaves prospect William Osula as the club's only other recognised centre-forward. Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Brentford star Yoane Wissa, who scored 19 league goals last term. However, the club are determined not to allow their pursuit of Leipzig forward Sesko to emulate Manchester United's earlier transfer strategy. talkSPORT have reported that Newcastle have informed Leipzig of their desire for clarity in terms of Sesko's next steps by Wednesday. It is said that the club are confident of reaching an agreement with the German side. Leipzig are thought to value the 22-year-old striker at around £70million. Sesko is also a target for Man United and had been on Arsenal's radar prior to the Gunners signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP. However, the report also claimed that Newcastle feel they must have a clear idea of Sesko's intentions before the latter half of the week. It is said that Leipzig have yet to receive any formal offers for Sesko, despite recent reports. Newcastle's unwillingness to find themselves in a transfer saga is contrary to Man United's approach to signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. Despite the club's public interest in Mbeumo, Man United had several offers turned down before the striker finally arrived at Old Trafford in a deal worth up to £71m. Newcastle wish to avoid replicating a similar scenario with Sesko. The Isak situation provides Newcastle with extra motivation to accelerate negotiations for Sesko and any other transfer targets. Aside from potentially losing a star player, Howe will want to ensure any new recruits have time to settle before the start of an important season for the club. Newcastle reportedly value their star forward at £150m and turned down an initial £110m offer from Liverpool last week. Sky Sports spotted the striker arriving at Newcastle's training ground on Monday, having spent time training with former side Real Sociedad. When asked if he thought Isak would report back to the club as the squad prepared to return from their pre-season tour of Asia, Newcastle boss Howe said: "Of course I'd like him to be (there), but whether he will I don't know at this moment in time. We have been here with the time difference, preparing for training and for games. Other people have been dealing with that situation back at home." Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions as Newcastle finally ended their long wait for silverware by winning the Carabao Cup and secured a Champions League spot by finishing fifth in the Premier League. He was brought by Newcastle in for around £63m in August 2022. Meanwhile, Sesko scored 21 goals in 45 games for Leipzig, including four goals in the Champions League. The centre-forward is one of the most sought-after strikers in European football, having thrived during his spells in Austria and Germany. Newcastle have welcomed winger Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for £55m and secured a loan move for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale so far this summer. In terms of outgoings, the club have recouped some money through the sales of Lloyd Kelly and Sean Longstaff to Juventus and Leeds United, respectively.
Daily Mirror
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Benjamin Sesko holds transfer talks as Man Utd and Newcastle wait for answer
Manchester United and Newcastle remain in a tug of war over Benjamin Sesko, whose current club RB Leipzig are preparing to dig their heels in around the asking price RB Leipzig's hierarchy met with Benjamin Sesko and his agent Elvis Basanovic on Sunday night to discuss the striker's possible sale to one of two Premier League clubs. But the Bundesliga club have firmly rejected Newcastle's initial offer of €75 million plus a €5 million bonus, demanding a guaranteed €80 million up front, while Manchester United remain hopeful of usurping the Toon by bringing the Slovenia star to Old Trafford instead. Sesko was not in Leipzig's matchday squad for their friendly against Serie A side Atalanta on Saturday afternoon with the much coveted striker kept out amid the tug of war between the Premier League giants. Newcastle, meanwhile, are in a separate dispute with their current top marksman Alexander Isak looking to pursue a new challenge. Liverpool remain the frontrunner to sign the Sweden international but his asking price remains an issue. It is unclear how interlinked Isak's future is with their move for Sesko with manager Eddie Howe previously stating his desire to have two high-class options for every position. United made their first approach for the Slovenian star last week, through intermediaries, who opened up dialogue over a potential deal. Those talks have progressed and will be stepped up this week, once United have returned home from their three-game tour of the US. Although United are looking to offload several players before the summer transfer window closes, they have scope to sign a striker without selling. Marcus Rashford's season-long loan move to Barcelona cleared £12m off their annual wage bill, with the La Liga club covering his entire salary. United also raised £20.7m from sell-on clauses including Anthony Elanga's switch to Newcastle, moves for Alvaro Fernandez and Maxi Oyedele, and the £5m paid by Chelsea to pull out of their deal to sign Jadon Sancho. In addition, United's failure to qualify for Europe this season – for only the second time in 35 years - means they are not bound by UEFA'S limit of spending no more than 70 per cent of annual income on transfers and wages. The structure of the deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who cost a combined £133.5m, with payments spread over instalments, has given United greater freedom to spend.
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Does Nunez move raise questions over PIF priorities?
To add to a deeply frustrating transfer window for Newcastle fans, it now looks like Darwin Nunez could make a move from Liverpool to Al Hilal in Saudi Liverpool to sell Nunez to free up the cash to potentially pursue Alexander Isak again makes so little sense to me. Al Hilal and Newcastle have the same overall owners, and they must know how much we do not want Liverpool to suddenly have a glut of cash is particularly galling when taken in the context of Eddie Howe's recent comments - that players have to "earn the right" to train with the rest of the squad. Not a Newcastle fan? Find and follow your clubThe team are back from pre-season and back in training this week, which represents a real opportunity to have a serious conversation and hopefully move forward without all this noise and also makes me think about what the priority is for our majority owners PIF. More and more discontent has been felt in the fanbase lately over where Newcastle sit on PIF's list of priorities, and allowing another of their clubs to benefit at the potential expense of us feels even more like we are being overlooked. Perhaps it is their clever way of getting money into NUFC, but I think most fans would say we would rather an improved contract was given to Isak, the dust of the summer settles, and he stays with us a little while more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
