Newcastle make stunning £70m Benjamin Sesko transfer bid as they 'present package & vision' after shock report claims striker's already REJECTED Man Utd

After the Daily Mail reported that the Magpies had presented their 'package and vision' to Sesko in a bid to persuade him to choose them over Manchester United, multiple sources revealed that a £70m (€80m) offer had officially been put to RB Leipzig. Newcastle have been desperately searching for a new No.9 this summer with Alexander Isak having been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, while the club missed out on key targets such as Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike. Equally in need of a new forward, Manchester United are also courting Sesko and presented their own case for why he should make the switch to Old Trafford. Sesko's preference had remained unclear, although a shock report in Slovenian media outlet Delo suggests that Eddie Howe's side have provided Sesko with the most attractive offer and he will choose them over the Red Devils.

With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee looking short of the standards required, and Isak determined to force through a move to Liverpool, the Red Devils and Newcastle respectively know that they need a top-level centre-forward. Sesko has emerged as the preferred option, with rumours over his future at Leipzig well-documented, but it remains unclear if the 22-year-old will now opt to join Howe's side. The Slovenian had appeared set on a switch to Arsenal, but with the German club and Sesko's agent reportedly haggling for more money, the Gunners moved for Viktor Gyokeres instead. Despite the reports coming out of Slovenia, plus the fact Newcastle have lodged an official bid, Jan Aage Fjortoft maintains that Sesko's preference is still Manchester United and that he has 'not changed his mind'.

Speaking in Seoul ahead of a pre-season game against Tottenham Hotspur, Howe refused to entertain the speculation. He said: "I am aware of what is happening but I am not dealing with it. I woke up today and had two training sessions then came straight here.

"I am finding out what is happening after it has happened, so we will try to bring the best to the football club - I will make that clear - but I can't talk about individual targets."

The other striker in the rumour mill linked with Newcastle and United is Ollie Watkins. The Aston Villa forward has been tipped with an exit from Villa Park this summer and has been considered by both the Magpies and Manchester United, but with Sesko the main target, Watkins the Englishman's future could be directly linked to where the Slovenian ultimately ends up landing. Indeed, Watkins could prove to be an ageing, but cheaper, Premier League-proven option for the club that misses out on Sesko.

Sesko must be counting the days until the transfer window closes. His future has been uncertain all summer and he will no doubt be determined to focus his mind back on playing football - whether that is in the Premier League or for Leipzig. The saga is likely to continue throughout the rest of the window, with it ultimately remaining unclear as to who will come out on top in the transfer race.