Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in case Alexander Isak departs this summer.
Isak has not travelled with the Magpies for their pre-season tour of Asia as he considers his future at the club amid interest from Liverpool.
Sesko was heavily linked with Arsenal until the Gunners shifted their focus to Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea were also keeping tabs on the Slovenia international earlier in the window.
Newcastle will only attempt to sign the 22-year-old, who scored 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, if Isak leaves.
Newcastle said Isak, 25, didn’t travel to Singapore with the rest of the squad due to a “minor thigh injury”.
Team-mate Dan Burn told Sky Sports that the departure of any player at this stage of the window would “upset a tight-knit group”, while captain Bruno Guimaraes said Newcastle “want to keep our best players”.
“He is a top striker, his [record over the] last three seasons speaks by itself, he’s a top player,” Guimaraes said.
“But as far as I know he just stayed there because of his injury, his treatment with the club.”
Isak scored 27 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions for Newcastle last season and his exit would leave the north east of England club outfit lacking options in the final third.
Newcastle stutter in striker pursuit
Callum Wilson left St James’ Park on a free earlier this month and 21-year-old Will Osula – who registered twice in 19 outings last term – is the only other senior striker available to Eddie Howe.
“It will be hugely damaging for Newcastle to lose Isak,” said former Magpies striker Alan Shearer.
“Ultimately if they can’t persuade him to stay for at least one more season then you have to get the best deal for Newcastle and that’s towards £150m.
“No player is bigger than the club and it would be a blow, but if you have to take the money and rebuild then that’s what you have to do. Say thanks for helping us win the Carabao Cup but off you go and we move on.”
Newcastle are preparing to fight on multiple fronts in 2025-26 after securing a return to the Champions League, but have been slow in strengthening their squad during the off-season.
They have fallen short in their pursuit of reinforcements with targets Joao Pedro and Liam Delap joining Chelsea, while Hugo Ekitike preferred a move to Liverpool.
Forward Anthony Elanga is the only new addition to Howe’s ranks after completing a £55m switch from Nottingham Forest.
A move for Yoane Wissa remains a top priority for Newcastle even if Isak stays put and the DR Congo forward appears open after leaving Brentford’s pre-season base in Portugal this week.
[BBC]