Manchester United remain in the running to sign Benjamin Sesko as RB Leipzig have rejected Newcastle United’s €80 million (£69.8m) bid for the striker, according to reports.
United and Newcastle are both competing to sign the 22-year-old before the end of the summer transfer window and negotiations have intensified this week.
Newcastle are in the market for a new striker due to the uncertainty over Alexander Isak’s future. Liverpool’s £110m bid has been rejected by Newcastle this week but the Sweden international wants to leave St James’ Park.
According to The Athletic, Newcastle have submitted an offer worth €75m (£65.5m) up front, plus an additional €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses for Sesko, but that has been turned down by RB Leipzig.
The report adds that Sesko has also not made a final decision over his next club, despite rumours in Slovenia on Friday claiming that the striker now favours a move to Newcastle.
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Sesko was left out of RB Leipzig’s penultimate pre-season friendly of the summer against Atalanta on Saturday.
‘Due to very concrete interest from several clubs, we decided he wouldn’t play today,’ said RB Leipzig’s sporting director, Marcel Schafer.
‘When I say there’s been strong interest and clubs have approached us directly, it’s obvious what that means.
‘I want to make it clear that this doesn’t mean he’s already on his way to another club. And it also doesn’t mean that Benji won’t play next week.’
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