Newcastle United remain on the hunt for a new striker this summer after failing in their attempts to sign long-term target Hugo Ekitike from Reims earlier this month, although they have now suffered further setbacks elsewhere.
The Daily Mail had recently reported that the Magpies are admirers of Red Bull Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko and had added him to their list of potential targets this summer, before eagle-eyed fans added to the speculation of a potential move soon after.
It was spotted that the player’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, had uploaded pictures of Newcastle ’s airport and Quayside to his Instagram story on Tuesday evening, although the Austrian outfit have now insisted that Sesko’s transfer situation is ‘very clear’.
"The situation is very clear," a club source told ChronicleLive. "Benjamin Sesko is a young and very important player for FC Red Bull Salzburg with a long-term contract and we are planning to play with him this season."
However, Basanovic’s trip to Tyneside still raises plenty of questions as to why he was there in the first place, with the report adding that it is ‘not uncommon for agents to embark on fact-finding missions to learn more about potential destinations for their clients.’
The Austrian champions have made their stance clear, although that is not to say that a move is completely ruled out for Sesko to join the Magpies, but with Salzburg having already sold Karim Adeyemi to Borussia Dortmund last month, they will have to work extra hard for a deal.
Could Newcastle still be in the running to sign Benjamin Sesko or should they divert their attention elsewhere? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Sesko only became a regular at the Red Bull Arena last season, despite having made his debut the previous season, before he was sent out on loan to Austrian Second League outfit FC Liefering, where he produced a tremendous return of 21 goals in 29 games in 2020/21.
But upon his return to the club last summer, Slovenia's youngest ever goalscorer netted 11 times in 37 appearances in all competitions as Salzburg won the league and cup double and reached the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.
The Slovenian also netted his first two goals for the national side against Malta in October and Serbia in June, as he now boasts the title of a seasoned international after accumulating 13 senior caps to his name in the past 18 months.
The 19-year-old stands at 6ft 4in tall and would prove to be a real target man up front at St. James’ Park, and certainly fits the bill for Eddie Howe as he searches for a young talented striker that he can develop into a world class player under his tutelage in the north east.
Salzburg would likely demand a sizeable fee for Sesko given his clear potential, and the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan are said to be keen on a move for him next summer, which is a transfer bidding war they could well be intent on holding out for.
Another setback to the Magpies is that the 19-year-old has previously said himself that he had planned on 'definitely' staying at Salzburg for at least another campaign in order to further his development.
