Benjamin Sesko 'takes drastic action' to force Man Utd transfer as Newcastle hit new low

Benjamin Sesko has reportedly given up a portion of his wages in order to facilitate a transfer worth £73.8million to Manchester United. Both the Red Devils and Newcastle were vying for his signature, but the Slovenian international opted for a move to Old Trafford, despite their rivals being able to offer Champions League football for the coming season.

Newcastle had earmarked Sesko as their preferred replacement for Alexander Isak, who is trying to force a move to Liverpool himself. But Eddie Howe's side have been knocked back again in a miserable summer that has involved almost all of their targets rejecting moves to St James' Park.

Their only significant additions have been the £55m capture of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, while Aaron Ramsdale has joined on loan from Southampton. Newcastle have been turned down by the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and now Sesko.

Sky Sports Germany claim that Sesko even agreed to waive part of his salary to force a move to United. He could have earned more at Newcastle, who were also willing to match RB Leipzig's valuation, but the striker insisted on Ruben Amorim's outfit instead, where he is set to earn less money.

Also a key factor in getting a transfer over the line was Sesko's agent, Elvis Basanovic, giving up a significant portion of the commission he was due to earn for his client's move.

Sesko is now en route to the UK to sign a five-year contract, with a medical also scheduled within the next 72 hours.

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For a club with the ambition of Newcastle, with Champions League in their arsenal and bigger wages to offer, watching Sesko join United instead will be a bitter pill to swallow.

Howe admitted that it has been a "challenging" summer for the Magpies, who remain on the lookout for two new strikers, with Isak potentially following Callum Wilson out of the door.

"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," Howe explained.

"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 done 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."

Newcastle could turn their attention to the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Ollie Watkins, Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen, four Premier League strikers they have been linked with this summer.