The reason Man Utd and Newcastle target Benjamin Sesko is out of RB Leipzig friendly

Manchester United and Newcastle transfer target Benjamin Sesko has not been included in RB Leipzig’s squad for Saturday’s friendly against Atalanta.

The 22-year-old’s future is the subject of intense speculation with the Magpies having tabled a bid amid reports he has taken the decision to move to St James’ Park.

Earlier this week it had been reported that the Slovenia international had his heart set on a switch to Old Trafford and it remains to be seen whether or not United table a rival offer.

Sesko had been due to play a part in Leipzig’s game in Bergomo this afternoon but has been omitted, according to Sky Germany, so not to jeopardies a transfer. Xavi Simons, who is on the cusp of a move to Chelsea, will also play no part.

The striker is reported to have already said goodbye to his teammates despite his eventual destination remaining up in the air.

Newcastle accelerated talks with Leipzig to sign Sesko and submitted an offer reportedly worth up to £69.7million.

The development comes after the Magpies rejected a £110m bid for Isak on Friday from Liverpool, who recently beat them to the signing of Frankfurt frontman Hugo Ekitike.

‘I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home,’ Newcastle boss Howe said on Isak.

‘I was made aware that there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down all before I even heard about it, so I think there’s people back in England dealing with the situation.

‘I really don’t know what’s going to happen next, but from our perspective we still support Alex in every way, and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.’

Isak did not travel to Asia for Newcastle’s pre-season tour due to what the club called a ‘minor thigh injury’, only for talk of his unhappiness to emerge.

Howe admitted ‘you don’t know what’s going to happen from this point” and, surprisingly, that he found out that the 25-year-old was training with former club Real Sociedad through the media.

Expert analysis: Benjamin Sesko

It was quite a tough season for Leipzig, which forced them to change coach after a disappointing Champions League campaign. They’ve been struggling, which reflects on his output, but he was still one of their best and most consistent players.

Sesko’s strengths are certainly his physicality and speed – he’s great at making dangerous runs in behind defences, but he’s also a very clinical and instinctive finisher, especially when the ball drops to him in the area. His work rate is good and he’s a willing runner off the ball as well.

His hold-up play is quite strong, but I think his link-up play is a side of his game that he can still improve. It’s not that he’s bad at that side of the game, but compared to someone like Kai Havertz, he’s not at that level. In particular, his passing will need to get a lot better.

But during his young career, he’s shown he can take those steps forward. His mentality is definitely a strength – he’s a player who wants to learn and wants to improve so in that sense he will be a quick learner.

Rune Gjerulff, German football expert and editor of Bulinews

‘I know where he is, really, through the media, so I think from that perspective it’s difficult for me to go into any kind of detail,’ the Newcastle boss said.

‘The situation is far from ideal and it is quite complex. I think that’s all I have got to say.’

Howe was speaking at a press conference in Seoul previewing a friendly against Tottenham and was tight-lipped when quizzed on Newcastle’s pursuit of Slovenia international Sesko.

The manager said ‘he can’t talk about individual targets’ in the wake of reports in the striker’s homeland overnight claiming Newcastle were in pole position to sign Sesko.

Howe said: ‘We are looking for the best players that we can get. Whatever our target position is, we’re looking for the best, so I see all situations open and available to us.

‘I feel that’s the only way that we’re going to get to where we want to go, which is to maximise, and it’s quality over quantity. It always has been.

‘That’s always been the way that we try to work and try to recruit, and I think we’ve done it pretty well to this point.

‘It’s been a challenging summer, as you know, because we’ve missed out on various targets for loads of different reasons.

‘But we’re still very competitive and we’re still in there trying to bring very good players to the club and that won’t change until the window shuts.’