Newcastle’s search for Alexander Isak’s successor has hit a snag – as RB Leipzig have reportedly rejected their opening bid for Benjamin Sesko.
Toon submitted a club record bid of £69.9million for Sesko, 22, but have been told the structure of their offer is insufficient.
It comes as a blow to Alexander Isak, whose hopes of a move to Liverpool likely hinge on Newcastle being able to install a capable replacement first.
Mail Sport has exclusively reported that Liverpool plan to return with a second approach for Isak after having their initial bid of £100m quickly snubbed.
Newcastle are looking at Sesko – who is also admired by Manchester United – as well as Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who has refused to train in a ploy to force through a move.
But they will have to improve their offer if they are to land Sesko, as The Athletic reports that their first has been rejected by RB Leipzig.
On Saturday the club made an official bid for Sesko comprising of a £65.5million up-front fee plus an additional £4.4m in add-ons.
That would smash the £60m they splashed on Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022.
Sesko is apparently yet to make up his mind as to whether he would prefer to join Newcastle or United. However, reports from Sesko’s native Slovenia claimed on Friday that Sesko would prefer a move to St James’ Park this summer.
United’s interest has been led by director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, who previously worked with Sesko at RB Salzburg and described the 6ft 4in forward as having the potential to become one of the world’s leading players.
The Old Trafford club are said to have named Sesko their No 1 target in recent weeks, having previously been linked with a move for Aston Villa marksman Ollie Watkins.
Meanwhile, Isak is now seemingly agitating for a move and did not join Newcastle on their pre-season tour of Asia.
The club explained his absence with the excuse of a ‘minor thigh injury’ but his scans came back clear and he has been training at the facilities of his old club Real Sociedad. He has since returned to Tyneside.
Howe admitted this week that he had not been made aware of Isak’s plans to return to the Basque club for rehabilitation and that he had instead found out through media reports.
‘I know where he is, really, through the media,’ Howe told Mail Sport as Newcastle stopped in Seoul as part of their pre-season tour.
‘From that perspective, it’s difficult for me to go into any kind of detail. The situation is far from ideal and is quite complex.’
Newcastle are holding out for a fee upwards of £150m for Isak, who has scored 52 goals combined in the last two seasons.
