Manchester United and Newcastle remain in a tugboat about Benjamin Sesko, whose current club RB Leipzig is preparing to dig their heels around the asking price
The hierarchy of RB Leipzig met Benjamin Sesko and his agent Elvis Basanovic on Sunday evening to discuss the possible sale of the striker to one of the two Premier League clubs.
But the Bundesliga club has set the initial range of € 75 million plus a bonus of € 5 million and demands a guaranteed € 80 million in advance, while Manchester United remains hopeful to take the tone by bringing the Slovenia star to Old Trafford instead.
Sesko was not in Leipzig's MatchDay team for their friendly against Serie A Side Atalanta on Saturday afternoon with the much coveted striker in the midst of the tugboat between the Premier League giants.
Newcastle is now in a separate dispute with their current top scanneman Alexander Isak who wants to think a new challenge. Liverpool remains the leader who signs the Sweden International, but his asking price remains a problem.
It is unclear how interconnected the future of Isak is with their relocation for Sesko with manager Eddie Howe who previously mentions his wish to have two high class options for each position.
United made their first approach for the Slovenian star last week, via intermediaries, who opened a dialogue about a possible deal. Those conversations have been advanced and will be performed this week, as soon as United has returned from their three-game tour by the US.
Although United wants to release different players before the summer transfer window closes, they have room to sign a striker without selling. Marcus Rashford's seasonal loan to Barcelona has released £ 12 million of their annual wage account, with the La Liga club covering its entire salary.
United has also collected £ 20.7 million from sale clauses, including the switch from Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, moving for Alvaro Fernandez and Maxi Oyedele, and the £ 5 million paid by Chelsea to withdraw their deal to sign Jadon Sancho.
Moreover, the failure of United means to qualify for Europe this season – for the second time in 35 years – means that they are not bound by the UEFA limit not to spend more than 70 percent of the annual income on transfers and wages.
The structure of the deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, which costs a combined £ 133.5 million, with payments spread over deadlines, has given United more freedom to spend.