Newcastle are set to rival Manchester United for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko this summer.
Newcastle’s preparations for the new season have been rocked with Alexander Isak informing the club of his desire to explore a move away amid links to Premier League champions Liverpool.
Isak, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season, has been left out of the Magpies’ travelling squad for a pre-season tour of Asia and it remains to be seen if he will play for the club again.
The fact the Sweden international has three years left on his contract at St James’ Park does leave Newcastle in a strong negotiating position. However, it has been reported that an offer of around £150million would be difficult to resist.
Therefore if Isak was to depart, Sesko has been earmarked as a direct replacement.
According to the Athletic, the 22-year-old is subject of long-standing interest from the Magpies but a deal is challenging from financial perspective.
With that said, RB Leipzig have reportedly lowered their asking price for the Slovenia international.
Earlier in the window when Sesko was being linked with a move to Arsenal, Leipzig were hoping to land a fee between £68m and £85m. That price is said to have dropped now, with offers of £60.6m (€70m) now considered viable.
Newcastle may have an advantage over Man Utd in that they can offer Sesko Champions League football next season while Ruben Amorim’s side are not in any European competition.
