Journalist says Newcastle looked into ‘incredible’ ace, but they didn’t think he was worth it

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Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Graeme Bailey has been discussing Newcastle United’s interest in Benjamin Sesko.

The striker has just joined RB Leipzig after a summer of speculation that saw him linked with both Newcastle and Manchester United.

According to Bailey, both Premier League sides did look into signing Sesko, but after checking out the background on the deal, they decided that the centre-forward just wouldn’t be worth it at this point in time.

What’s been said?

Bailey shared what he knows about Newcastle’s interest in Sesko.

“There was an interest and I think that if there was a big bid he would’ve gone in. To be fair, I think once Newcastle and United had looked into the background they decided that, at the moment, he wasn’t a £50m player,” Bailey said.

Not worth it

There have been differing reports on how much Sesko cost this summer. Some are claiming that his move to Leipzig was worth £55m, while others are claiming that he was just £20m.

Either way, we can understand why Newcastle decided that this deal wasn’t one worth pursuing.

Indeed, Sesko has scored just six senior league goals in his career, and those were in the Austrian League – a league that isn’t necessarily one of the best in Europe.

Of course, some fantastic players have come from Salzburg in recent years, just look at Sadio Mane and Erling Haaland, but that’s not necessarily a basis to go out and spend millions on an unproven teenager.

Newcastle may be the richest club in the world, but FFP means that they have to be careful when it comes to spending, and if Sesko was valued that highly, they were probably right to look elsewhere.

Jose Enrique stated that Sesko would’ve been an ‘incredible’ signing for the Magpies, but at that price, the Magpies were right to steer clear.