Red Bull Salzburg reportedly have no intention to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer, handing Newcastle United a major blow in his pursuit.
According to 90 min, Newcastle United have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko. The Austrian giants will not be parting ways with the 19-year-old Slovenian whizkid this summer.
Sesko emerged as the latest player on Newcastle United’s radar in their ongoing hunt for a striker. The player’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, had uploaded pictures of Newcastle’s airport and Quayside to his Instagram story, which were spotted by eagle-eyed fans before the news spread like wildfire on social media.
Following that, there were reports that the Magpies are admirers of Sesko and have added the 19-year-old to their list of prospective targets this summer. However, the Newcastle chiefs have already suffered a setback in his pursuit, with Red Bull Salzburg insisting that their prized asset is not for sale and that they will not entertain any offers for him.
Over the past few years, Red Bull Salzburg have been building a name for themselves as one of Europe’s premier talent factories. While they continue to lose their best players season after season, with Erling Haaland, Karim Adeyemi, and Patson Daka being prime examples, a steady conveyor belt ensures that the influx of talent at the other end is more than enough to replenish their stock, with Sesko the current focus.
The Slovenian whizkid scored ten goals in 36 games for Salzburg last season, in what was his breakthrough campaign in the Austrian top-flight. Despite his tender years, Slovenia’s youngest ever goalscorer already has 13 caps for his country and impressed in his limited minutes in the UEFA Champions League as the Austrian champions reached the knockout stages.
Dubbed the next Haaland in Austria, Sesko has been linked with a move to Tottenham previously this summer. And Newcastle United have now taken a keen interest in him.
As evidenced by their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike, who opted to join Paris Saint-Germain instead, Newcastle United are looking to sign a young striker with a high upside, someone who can learn the trade in the Premier League alongside much more experienced counterparts at the club in the likes of Chris Wood and Callum Wilson.
In many ways, Sesko fits the criteria for Newcastle. Standing at 6ft 4in and exhibiting deceptive speed, brilliant finishing, and an excellent work rate, it is no wonder that the 19-year-old whizkid is viewed as a star in the making. However, Salzburg have made their stance clear: they see Sesko as a natural successor to Adeyemi, who has joined Borussia Dortmund this summer.
A move to St. James’ Park is now completely ruled out for Sesko. But with the player tied to a long-term contract until 2026 at the Red Bull Arena and intending to stay at Salzburg for at least another season in order to continue his development, the odds of Newcastle getting this one over the line are slim.
