Newcastle make improved offer for Benjamin Sesko
The Magpies had an initial offer, reportedly worth £65.4million with a further £4.3m in potential add-ons, rejected last week for the Slovenia international, who has also been linked with Manchester United.
Advertisement
An improved offer of £69.7m plus add-ons has now been submitted to the Bundesliga club, it is understood.
Recent reports in Slovenia claimed the 22-year-old would prefer a move to St James' Park rather than Old Trafford, while he was left out of Leipzig's squad for Saturday's friendly against Atalanta.
Should Newcastle succeed in landing Sesko, capped 41 times by Slovenia and who scored 21 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig last season, it could have a huge bearing on the future of striker Alexander Isak.
Newcastle have rejected a £110million bid from Liverpool for the Sweden international, who had been training at former club Real Sociedad after revealing he could be open to a move.
Isak headed back to Tyneside on Monday morning for showdown talks with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe as the rest of the squad returned from their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea.
The Magpies are also pursuing an interest in Brentford's Yoane Wissa and the success of bringing in one, or both, of their targets could be key to what happens with Isak.
Should Howe be satisfied with the 25-year-old's commitment, Newcastle will be keen to keep hold of a player who scored 23 goals in 34 Premier League appearances last season and whose contract runs until the summer of 2028.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
14 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Liverpool summer sales hit €170m as Tyler Morton joins Lyon in €17m deal
The England U-21 international, who made 14 first-team appearances for Liverpool, joined the Ligue Un club after passing a medical. Liverpool also have a 20pc sell-on clause for Morton if the 22-year-old, who helped England win the European U-21 Championships in June, continues to improve. But the Premier League champions are confident they have enough options in midfield to countenance his sale, with Stefan Bajcetic another defensive midfielder and James McConnell and the promising Trey Nyoni also able to offer back-up to regulars like Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones. Morton has spent the last two seasons on loan at Blackburn and Hull, making 87 appearances for the Championship clubs. Liverpool have also sold Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhín Kelleher and Nat Phillips this summer while Darwin Nunez and Ben Doak could also leave. Meanwhile, Newcastle United are considering returning to a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. Guehi has been a target for Liverpool this summer but was the subject of a large bid from Newcastle last summer. This year, it is thought that the Magpies value him at £40m, though Palace's valuation is more like £50m.

The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Manchester United make bid for Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko after Newcastle's improved offer
LAST UPDATE | 51 mins ago MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE made an offer for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko after Newcastle submitted a second bid for the Slovenia international, the PA news agency understands. The race for the highly-rated 22-year-old is heating up as the Premier League clubs battle to bolster their front lines. PA understands Newcastle made a second approach to Leipzig after seeing an initial offer – reportedly worth €75m with a further €5m in potential add-ons – rejected last week. That improved offer of at least €80m has been followed by Ruben Amorim's United pursuing their long-standing interest with a bid of their own. The Red Devils have tabled a proposal worth a reported €75m plus a potential €10m in add-ons as they seek to take Sesko to Old Trafford. The striker has a decision to make on his future, with sources at Leipzig indicating they were currently unclear about who he favoured, given conflicting information. Advertisement Sesko scored 21 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions last term and has long been on the Red Devils' radar, stretching back to when he moved from Domzale to RB Salzburg in 2019. The Old Trafford club have held an interest ever since and made him their priority over Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, having been interested in Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike before their summer switches. Newcastle had pursued a move for Ekitike before his move from Frankfurt to Liverpool, who saw a £110m bid for unsettled star Alexander Isak rejected on Friday. Sesko's arrival could have a huge bearing on the future of the Sweden international, who had been training at former club Real Sociedad after missing the Magpies' Asian tour with a thigh complaint. Isak headed back to Tyneside on Monday morning for showdown talks with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe as the rest of the squad returned from their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea. The Magpies are also pursuing an interest in Brentford's Yoane Wissa and the success of bringing in one, or both, of their targets could be key to what happens with Isak. Should Howe be satisfied with the 25-year-old's commitment, Newcastle will be keen to keep hold of a player who scored 23 goals in 34 Premier League appearances last season and whose contract runs until the summer of 2028.


Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Pep Guardiola sends message to Brendan Rodgers ahead of new season
Brendan Rodgers revealed that Pep Guardiola's faith in Jahmai Simpson-Pusey played a crucial role in Celtic's move for the talented defender. There's little doubt the Manchester City manager holds the teenager in high regard after delivering a glowing public assessment of the 'unbelievable' 19 year old. The centre-half joins Parkhead following a breakthrough campaign at the Etihad, where he clocked up six first-team outings including Premier League and Champions League starts alongside various cup appearances. That invaluable experience alongside world-class talent made Simpson-Pusey an obvious target for Rodgers, who told Sky Sports that Guardiola's backing last term made the signing a straightforward choice. Rodgers said: "He's a young player that I feel can come into this environment and really support us in the games that we play.", reports the Daily Record. "We need a number of centre halves and he is one, with his profile and attributes that fit how we play. "He has got good pace. He is a good defender first and foremost but he can also play football because at Celtic, you need to be able to build the game from behind and progress it quickly. He can do that. "He has had some senior games with Manchester City and has had the trust of Pep (Guardiola) to put him in. Now he comes here for a year and continues that education at a massive club." And you don't need to search hard for evidence of that confidence Rodgers mentions. Simpson-Pusey is tipped for a bright future and, if Guardiola's words are anything to go by, it's a significant win for Celtic to secure his services. He was given his Premier League debut against Brighton in November, having previously been on the starting line-up against Sporting CP in the Champions League. City, despite their struggles with form, lost that match 2-1. However, Simpson-Pusey emerged as a silver lining, demonstrating his capabilities alongside Josko Gvardiol and Kyle Walker in defence. Post-match, Guardiola praised: "Jahmai Simpson-Pusey played really good again, with this composure – the duels, everything was good. We have a central defender to help us for the next years. "I'm really pleased. Always, there is good news when a situation is going bad – and this is one of them. It's not easy for him. "Normally, the young lads come in with the support of the team – Rodri in front of them, the best Kyle Walker and other defenders. He's playing in a position that is difficult for him, and he performed unbelievably."