Category News

The transfer saga involving Benjamin Sesko needs to come to an end quickly, and it’s not clear how that will end.

Both Manchester United and Newcastle United are awaiting an answer after making high-dollar bids for the Leipzig striker.

Sesko is alleged to have informed both clubs that he is his first choice, but BBC Sport has been informed that he wants to join the Red Devils.

However, each team has advantages and disadvantages, including whether either of the Premier League clubs are willing to sign him.

And where would he spend more time playing video games?

The Slovenian could make a difference wherever he ends up, but one thing seems certain: he could be big, strong, quick, and clinical.

Do they actually make a bid? Do they exist?

On Tuesday, Sesko received Manchester United’s first official offer.

Simon Stone, the head of BBC Sport’s football news program, reports a starting fee of £65.2 million that will increase to £73.8 million.

Before making their move, they were assumed to want to make sure Sesko wanted to follow them.

According to Old Trafford sources, they do not need to sell players before making more signings, but they do acknowledge that Ruben Amorim’s desire to finance several players will need to be funded.

Sesko would like to join them, but why?

If Sesko signed for Manchester United, he would likely start at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Since leaving Atalanta for the club for £64 million, Rasmus Hojlund, also 22, has only scored 14 Premier League goals in the last two years.

Sesko, who moved from Salzburg to Leipzig in the summer, has since scored 27 Bundesliga goals.

Ruben Amorim complained about his team’s inability to score enough frequently during the majority of the season, but many outside United observers believe any extra money would be better spent on a physical, energetic central midfielder, according to Stone.

“Clearly, he thinks Rasmus Hojlund needs to be upgraded at the top of the pitch. In order to do that, United are willing to take Hojlund’s offers into consideration when negotiating with RB Leipzig.

And he could join Matheus Cunha, a Wolves signing this summer, and former Nottingham Forest man Mbeumo, who will both be signing for about £130 million this summer.

If he were the main attraction, he could receive a lot of service from the three closest players.

In his team-mates’ ten chances, Bruno Fernandes scored more chances than any other Premier League player last season, a total of 91.

Mbeumo and Cunha were in fifth place, with 57 chances for Wolves players, while Mbeumo and Cunha were in fifth place.

Why might Sesko object against joining them?

Sesko might decide Old Trafford would not be the best place to pursue his career, which is clearly evident from the start.

For one, they haven’t competed in any European competition this year. In three of his previous four seasons, Sesko has participated in the Champions League and the Europa League in the other.

And he would be a member of a team that finished 15th overall last year, which was their worst campaign since 1973-74 when they were promoted.

Boss Amorim has had the opportunity to rebuild this summer despite only taking over halfway through the previous campaign. However, a poor start could also lead to managerial change.

Do they actually make a bid? Do they exist?

Sesko has been offered around £70 million by Newcastle, and they are still negotiating with Leipzig.

They want him despite Alexander Isak’s departure as the club’s star striker, who had previously attempted to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt to join the Swede.

Instead, Ekitike moved to Liverpool, who coincidentally want Isak and have rejected their £110 million bid.

Sesko would like to join them, but why?

Sesko would return to the Champions League if he were to join Newcastle, who finished fifth last season.

After completing their 56-year trophy drought with the Carabao Cup, he would be joining an apparently upwardly mobile club.

Lois Openda, who was the second-quickest player in the Bundesliga last year, is the other player who has made the most of Sesko’s time playing in the front two at Leipzig.

If he stays with the Magpies, he would relish the chance to form a strike partnership with Isak.

Additionally, he might have plenty of opportunities thanks to the second and third top assisters in the Premier League last season providing him with wing support.

Before making his £55m move to Tyneside, Anthony Elanga contributed 11 assists for Nottingham Forest.

Why might Sesko object against joining them?

Isak’s decision to stay or leave might be seen as a win-win situation for Sesko.

Sesko would almost certainly have the opportunity to start every game if he leaves. However, he might be concerned about the club’s ambitions since they recently lost a key player.

If Eddie Howe chooses against a front two, or it fails, Isak is unlikely to be shoved out the wing to make room for Sesko, as he does if he stays.

He joins a team that has never competed in the tournament properly in consecutive seasons and has never advanced to the knockout stages if winning the Champions League is a priority.

Could Leipzig still have him?

Due to the high price Leipzig are asking for, as well as the alleged desire for add-ons, they do not need to sell Sesko.

However, they are undergoing a summer rebuild under Ole Werner, a new 37-year-old head coach.

Six signings totalling £80 million have been made, but they haven’t yet completed a significant sale to make more money.

Chelsea are, however, attempting to sign Leipzig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons for a significant sum.

Sesko wants to stay, but why?

Sesko might not be opposed to a third Bundesliga season at Leipzig, where he could play every game and make improvements over the previous campaign, which saw him score 13 goals against 14 in the process.

The only thing to keeping might be to wait another season to see if any reputable Champions League clubs would want to sign him.

Due to his fee, few sides are currently able to afford him.

However, Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane, the frontman for Bayern Munich, are both 32. So they might begin looking forward to the season ahead.

Sesko has previously been linked to both sides.

The central striking options at Real Madrid depend on Kylian Mbappe and Kylian Mbappe, so they may have to make adjustments.

He has also been linked with Chelsea and Arsenal this summer, before they signed Viktor Gyokeres.

So could Sesko decide to wait and see what’s on the table for the summer?

Why might Sesko choose not to stay?

Sesko may well feel that his Red Bull clubs and Leipzig have served him well given that he started his apprenticeship there in Salzburg.

This season, they won’t compete in any European competition.

Given that he is only 22 years old, he has been linked to Premier League clubs consistently in each transfer window.

This might be the right time to leave Leipzig, if they have a new-look team and manager.

With the start of the season fast approaching, the Benjamin Sesko transfer saga needs to reach a conclusion one way or the other fairly soon – and it remains unclear which way it will end.

Manchester United and Newcastle United have both made big-money bids for the Leipzig striker – and are waiting for an answer.

German newspaper Bild claims Sesko has told both clubs they are his first choice – but BBC Sport has been told he is keen on a move to the Red Devils.

But there are pros and cons for each team – namely whether either of the Premier League sides are actually in a position to sign him.

And where would he be more likely to get game time?

One thing seems sure – big, strong, quick and a clinical finisher – the Slovenian could be a difference-maker wherever he ends up.

Have they actually made a bid? Can they?

Manchester United made their first formal offer for Sesko on Tuesday.

BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone reports it is an initial fee of £65.2m, rising to £73.8m.

They had been thought to want to be sure Sesko wanted to join them before making their move.

Old Trafford sources say they do not have to sell players before making more signings – but do accept finance will have to be generated by several players unwanted by Ruben Amorim.

Why would Sesko want to join them?

Sesko would be a likely starter at one of the world’s biggest clubs if he joined Manchester United.

Rasmus Hojlund, also aged 22, has only scored 14 Premier League goals in two seasons since his £64m move from Atalanta.

By contrast Sesko has scored 27 Bundesliga goals in that time, having joined Leipzig from Salzburg in the same summer.

“Although many external United observers feel any spare income would be better spent on a physical, energetic central midfielder, Ruben Amorim spent most of last season moaning about his side’s inability to score often enough,” said Stone.

“Clearly he feels an upgrade is required on Rasmus Hojlund at the top of the pitch. To that end, United are willing to listen to offers for Hojlund, which may end up being part of their negotiations with RB Leipzig.”

And he could be part of an all-new front line with Matheus Cunha, a summer signing from Wolves, and ex-Brentford man Mbeumo joining for about £130m in total this summer.

He could get plenty of service from the three players nearest him if he was the focal point up top.

Bruno Fernandes created more chances than any other Premier League player last season – 91 – with his team-mates scoring 10 of them.

Mbeumo was fifth on the list, creating 70 chances for Brentford team-mates, and Cunha was 15th, with 57 opportunities laid on for Wolves players.

Why might Sesko not want to join them?

There are some fairly obvious reasons why Sesko might decide Old Trafford would not be the best destination to keep his career on this upward trajectory.

For one, they are not in any European competition this season. Sesko has played in the Champions League in three of the past four seasons, and the Europa League in the other.

And he would be joining a team who finished 15th last season, their worst campaign since they were relegated in 1973-74.

Boss Amorim has been given the opportunity to rebuild this summer, having only taken over midway through last season – but a bad start could see a managerial change too.

Have they actually made a bid? Can they?

Newcastle have made an offer of about £70m to sign Sesko and are still in discussions with Leipzig.

They want him even if star striker Alexander Isak stays at the club – having previously tried to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt to play with the Swede.

Ekitike instead joined Liverpool, who incidentally want Isak and have had a £110m rejected by the Magpies.

Why would Sesko want to join them?

For one Sesko would be back in the Champions League if he were to join Newcastle, with the Magpies finishing fifth last season.

He would be joining a seemingly upwardly mobile club – having ended their 56-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup.

Sesko has spent most of his time at Leipzig playing in a front two with Lois Openda – who was the second quickest player in the Bundesliga last season.

So he would relish the opportunity to build a strike partnership with Isak – if he stays with the Magpies.

And he could get plenty of chances too, with the second and third top assisters in the Premier League last season supplying him from the wings.

Jacob Murphy had 12 assists with Anthony Elanga providing 11 for Nottingham Forest before his £55m move to Tyneside.

Why might Sesko not want to join them?

Whether Isak stays or goes could be seen as win-win or lose-lose for Sesko.

If he goes, Sesko would be pretty much guaranteed the chance to start every game. But he may worry about the ambition of the club if they have just lost a key player.

Likewise, if Isak stays, there is the danger he struggles for game time if Eddie Howe decides against a front two, or it is not successful, with Isak unlikely to be shoved out to the wing to make room for Sesko.

Also if playing in the Champions League is a priority, he joins a team who have never been in the tournament proper in consecutive seasons – and never reached the knockout stages.

Could Leipzig still keep him?

Leipzig do not need to sell Sesko – hence the high fee they are asking for, plus the reported desire for add-ons.

They are having a summer rebuild, however, under new 37-year-old head coach Ole Werner.

Six signings have come in so far for a combined £80m – but they are yet to make a major sale to free up funds.

However, Chelsea are trying to sign Leipzig’s attacking midfielder Xavi Simons in what would be a big-money move.

Why would Sesko want to stay?

Sesko might not be opposed to a third season at Leipzig, where he could play every game and try to improve on last season – where he scored one Bundesliga goal fewer than he did the previous campaign (13 v 14).

But the major upside to staying might be waiting another season to see whether any established Champions League clubs could sign him.

His fee means not many sides can afford him right now.

But Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is 32 and Barcelona frontman Robert Lewandowski is 36. So next season they might start looking to the future.

Sesko has been linked to both sides before.

Real Madrid’s central striking options depend on less experienced options and Kylian Mbappe – so they may revisit things too.

And he has also been linked to Arsenal – before they signed Viktor Gyokeres – and Chelsea this summer.

So could Sesko take a ‘wait and see what is on the table next summer’ approach?

Why might Sesko not want to stay?

Of course Sesko may well feel his apprenticeship at Leipzig – and Red Bull clubs in general, having started at Salzburg – has been served.

They are not in any European competition this season.

He has consistently been linked to Premier League clubs in each transfer window for the past few years, despite only being 22, so the time might have come to take the plunge.

On top of that if Leipzig have a new-look team and manager, this might be the time to go.

As Liverpool, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace prepare for the upcoming season, they all hosted double-header friendlies.

On Monday, the Premier League champions squared off with Athletic Bilbao twice, giving Arne Slot the chance to play his entire squad for the maximum number of minutes.

As Liverpool prepares for the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, they featured 32 players.

Darwin Nunez scored in the first game after an hour of play and the Uruguay striker finding the net in a 4-1 victory.

Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike made their home debuts with a 3-2 victory, and Slot then assigned a different starting XI and bench for the second match.

In the pre-season, Crystal Palace plays twice in a day against German side Augsburg, a format that other clubs have followed.

Manager Oliver Glasner expressed his delight with the results of this double exam. We had good tests and made a big step forward at the conclusion of a really challenging training camp.

Before flying to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series, Bournemouth also played two times against Championship side Bristol City in hinter-closed-doors friendlies.