Newcastle have given RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko 48 hours to choose between them and Manchester United, according to a report.
The Slovenia international has been one of the main protagonists of this summer transfer window. Initially a target for Arsenal, Sesko is now the subject of an epic struggle between Man Utd and Newcastle.
The Magpies put all their cards on the table last week by making a formal €80 million offer. RB Leipzig deemed the bid insufficient, but the gap between the two clubs is understood to be minuscule, with only a disagreement over bonus payments preventing a deal from being struck.
The real issue is Sesko himself. The outcome of this saga hinges on the 22-year-old, and as things stand, he has still not made a decision on his next club. This has left Man Utd in with a chance of signing him.
So far, Man Utd have not presented a bid to Leipzig, and it is unclear if they can match or outbid Newcastle given the struggles they have faced in offloading players this summer.
Sesko given ultimatum
Despite the ongoing uncertainty, it is expected that the issue will be resolved as early as this week. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano recently predicted a final decision from Sesko imminently as he believes that this matter won’t drag on until the end of the window.
This has now been backed up by journalist Ben Jacobs, who reports that Newcastle have informed Sesko that they expect an answer from him within the next 48 hours.
The Magpies are confident that a deal with Leipzig will be struck and now want clarity from the player. Jacobs states that Newcastle don’t want this saga to drag on into the latter half of the week.
Of course, Newcastle would still have to agree terms with Sesko, but getting the initial green light from him would go a long way towards securing his arrival. Sky Sports recently revealed that the forward had been left impressed by the Magpies’ financial and sporting proposal, so terms are likely not going to be a huge issue.
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