‘Huge frustration’ – Newcastle admit defeat amid fresh Benjamin Sesko update
Newcastle’s chiefs believe that they are close to another huge setback in the transfer market following a new development on Benjamin Sesko’s future amid interest from Man United.
There was lots of positivity around St James’ Park following Newcastle’s Champions League qualification at the end of 2024/25, but that has now dissipated due to their recent struggles in the transfer market.
Football Insider revealed in June that Newcastle are expected to make up to three major signings this summer, but they have routinely missed out on their top targets so far, as Hugo Ekitike has joined Liverpool, while they wanted to sign Mbeumo but were beaten to the transfer by Man United.
Football Insider recently revealed that Howe was “devastated” to have missed out on signing Joao Pedro, and they have been rocked by star striker Alexander Isak wanting to leave St James’ Park, while Newcastle have also been told that Yoane Wissa is not for sale and have been beaten to James Trafford’s signature by Man City.
All of these setbacks will massively irk Howe and their supporters who were promised a fruitful window after their success last season, and while Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Sesko alongside the Red Devils, it looks as if they could miss out on yet another priority target.
Newcastle think Sesko will choose Man United
Journalist Mark Douglas (24 July) has stated that the Magpies are known to have been long-term admirers of Slovenian forward Sesko, who bagged 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for RB Leipzig last season.
Reports that Man United are also in negotiations with Sesko’s camp emerged earlier in the week, and so the decision about which Premier League club he joins this summer is now believed to lie solely with him and his agents.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 87 | 39 | 8 |
The Mail (30 July) have now claimed that, while the Magpies are continuing to pursue a deal for Sesko, the feeling inside St James’ Park is that he is likely to go to Man United, which would cause “huge frustration” at the club as they are very keen on making the Slovenian their main man up front.
According to The Athletic, Sesko is targeting a move to an “elite” club in a £60m-plus move away from Leipzig, and while the Red Devils have obviously struggled in recent years, they are still a bigger club than Newcastle and have already proved their pulling power against the Tynesiders in being able to win the race for Mbeumo from Brentford.
Howe could quit after Newcastle’s dismal summer
Football Insider verdict
Newcastle have suffered blow after blow throughout this summer window, with a number of their key targets not joining the club, while they also look set to miss out on a back-up target too after Brentford insisted that Yoane Wissa is not for sale.
Howe has guided the Magpies to some hugely successful seasons since his arrival, but he may feel that time is up for him at St James’ Park given their recent setbacks, that is, if he is not sacked before he potentially walks after Football Insider revealed on Monday (28 July) that PIF feel that Howe is partly to blame for their poor window.
Football finance expert Dan Plumley recently told Football Insider that Newcastle are still in a “tricky spot” regarding finances, and as well as Wissa, they are now seemingly set to miss out on another target with Sesko looking likely to snub a move to the north-east and join Man United.
Howe is said to have been “blind-sided” by news that Isak wants to leave the club, with their Saudi owners surprisingly getting involved in the situation rather than leaving him to deal with it, so all is clearly not well at the top regarding his status as boss.
This new potential blow is just another in a long line of setbacks so far this summer, and at this point, it would not be a shock to see him leave St James’ Park in the coming weeks.