Newcastle United reportedly are ready to cash in to Alexander Isaac if they succeed in signing Benjamin Sesco. Liverpool waited for the signal to move forward on the second bid by the Swedish striker after seeing the first £110 million offer being knocked back.
Isak informed the Newcastle boss that he wanted to explore his options before asking him to be ruled out from his recent pre-season Asian trip. He is understood to have returned to Magpie headquarters on Monday to discuss his future with Eddie Howe after training alone at the facility of the old Spanish club Real Sociedad.
Newcastle is desperate to keep the star at the center this summer, but Isaac appears to be pushing for leaving. And, according to Talksport, if they signed Sesko, an alternative to RB Leipzig, they would be willing to admit defeat and sanction his exit.
Liverpool will need to raise their bids beyond the £116 million fee, exceeding the UK record it paid to Florian Wilts in June. They reportedly don’t intend to match Newcastle’s £150 million ask price, but the development will renew hope that the Anfield Chiefs will be able to land Isaac, who has surpassed 20 Premier League goals in each of the last two seasons.
The Reds now have a vested interest in Newcastle’s progress as Newcastle pursues Sesco, the subject of Manchester United’s serious interest.
Toon offered Leipzig a £78 million package on Monday, which is still accepted, but Sesko’s preferences may be a determinant. United have not yet made their own bids and can only do so if Sesco is said to prefer the move to Old Trafford.
Liverpool has already spent £79 million on Hugo Ekicchike this summer, but the former Eintrak Frankfurt striker could either move to the left or be demoted to the bench once Isaac joined him at Merseyside.
Isak risks exacerbating relations with Newcastle supporters by trying to leave the Northeast. And Howe put the law into law before he and his team returned from the preseason tour.
“You have to earn the right to train with us,” he said. “We are Newcastle United. Players have a responsibility to be part of the team and to be part of the team. You have to act the right way. Players can’t behave poorly and expect to train with the group as normal.”
