Published On 5 Aug 20255 Aug 2025
Premier League sides Manchester United and Newcastle have both placed competing bids for in-demand RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, German tabloid Bild reported Tuesday.
Bild said the Red Devils made an initial bid of 85 million euros ($98.2) on Tuesday for the 22-year-old centre forward.
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Newcastle had offered a reported 80 million euros ($92.4) for the striker on Saturday, upping that to 85 million ($98.2) with bonuses on Monday.
The Slovenian striker scored 13 goals and laid on five assists in a disappointing league campaign for Leipzig last season. He has scored 16 times in 41 appearances at the international level.
Sesko was stood down from Saturday’s home friendly against Serie A side Atalanta, won 2-1 by the visitors, due to a potential transfer.
Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer confirmed this, saying Sesko would not play “due to the very concrete interests from several clubs”.
United are rebuilding after their worst top-flight campaign in 51 years, along with defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
United were toothless in attack and have already brought in forwards [Matheus Cunha](/sports/2025/6/12/manchester-united-complete-matheus-cunha-signing-from-wolves) and [Bryan Mbeumo](/sports/2025/7/22/bryan-mbeumo-signs-with-manchester-united-from-brentford) in the summer window.
Sesko’s arrival could push under-pressure striker Rasmus Hojlund towards the exit, with reports emerging that United could sell the Denmark forward for 35 million ($40.4) euros, less than half of what they paid to bring him from Atalanta in 2023.
Newcastle qualified for the Champions League with a fifth-placed finish last season, but are reportedly in danger of losing striker Alexander Isak to Premier League champions Liverpool.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies