The intense transfer battle for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško has taken another dramatic turn. According to a new report from David Ornstein of The Athletic, Newcastle United have now moved into pole position to sign the highly-sought-after Slovenian international.
Following a period of intense competition, Newcastle have backed up their interest with a significant financial commitment. The club has reportedly submitted an improved formal offer for the striker, with the new bid said to be worth at least €80 million, a figure that is understood to be close to RB Leipzig’s valuation.
Crucially, this strong move comes after a round of “positive talks” between Newcastle and both the player’s representatives and his current club. The report adds the vital detail that RB Leipzig “currently favour Newcastle” as the preferred destination for Šeško, a huge blow to other interested suitors.
This development is a significant setback for Premier League rivals Manchester United, who were also heavily pursuing the striker and were recently reported to be confident of a deal. While their interest is ongoing, Newcastle’s decisive action and improved offer appear to have put them firmly in the lead.
Newcastle’s aggressive push to sign Šeško is directly linked to the future of their own wantaway star striker, Alexander Isak. Securing a top-class replacement like Šeško is seen as the final major hurdle before the club would be willing to sanction Isak’s potential record-breaking move to his preferred destination, Liverpool.
While the deal is not yet fully agreed, all signs now point towards Benjamin Šeško joining Newcastle. Their improved offer, positive talks, and the selling club’s preference have made them the clear favourites to win the race.