Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has reacted to the setback that top target Benjamin Sesko is set to join Manchester United instead this summer.
Manchester United have made an impressive start to the summer transfer window, securing Matheus Cunha from Wolves on day one, while also bringing in highly rated young defender Diego Leon.
After extended negotiations, the Reds also completed the signing of Bryan Mbeumo, with all three new arrivals now included in Rúben Amorim’s squad for the pre-season tour of the United States.
The club’s focus has now shifted to finalising a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with the transfer expected to be completed shortly; potentially capping off a major overhaul of United’s attacking options.
Despite facing competition from Newcastle for the striker’s signature, Sesko has given the green light to United and agreed personal terms with the Manchester club.
Eddie Howe reacts to Sesko to United setback
Eddie Howe has done excellent work at St James’ Park since his appointment but will be frustrated by the lack of business so far this summer.
Following on from the news that Sesko has rejected Newcastle for a move to Old Trafford, Howe spoke to reporters and assured them that Newcastle are still working hard in the market to secure targets.
“We are looking at the best players we can get. We are only looking at the best we can get, I see all situations open and available to us,” he said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“I feel that is the only way we are going to get where we want to go, which is to maximise quality over quantity. That is the way it has always been, the way we work, we try to improve, we have don it pretty well to this point.
“It has been a challenging summer as you know. We have missed out on loads of different targets for different reasons.
“But we are still very competitive and we are still in there trying to bring good players to the club, that won’t change until the window shuts.”
Embarrassing Sesko detail emerges for Newcastle
United also beat Newcastle to the signing of Mbeumo earlier this summer and many of their fans tried to convince themselves that the reason behind this was due to a better financial package.
False reports of a £300,000-a-week contract were quickly proven incorrect, with the Cameroonian instead earning around half of that.
The same has been suggested for Sesko, but Fabrizio Romano has revealed that it was in fact Newcastle who offered higher wages to the 22-year-old striker, but he has still opted to join United instead.
That goes along with the fact that the North East club have put more money on the table to RB Leipzig than the Reds.
It is an embarrassing detail of the deal for the Geordies, and it is another reminder that United remain desirable despite their recent difficulties.
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