Newcastle United’s summer transfer window has not gone to plan. In fact, some would say it’s gone to the dogs.
However, we still have a month of market mayhem ahead of us, and Eddie Howe is intent on bolstering the key areas after leading the Toon back into the Champions League with a fifth-place Premier League finish last season.
The shrewd tactician also engineered an incredible triumph in the Carabao Cup, ending so many years of searching for an elusive major trophy.
Let’s not forget, Anthony Elanga has signed for a £55m fee, while Southampton shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale is undergoing his medical ahead of a switch to Tyneside. The Three Lions man was hailed for his “phenomenal” quality when at the Emirates by ex-Arsenal legend David Seaman.
Howe and his transfer team plan to add a centre-back to the ranks ahead of the forthcoming campaign too. However, it’s a centre-forward that St. James’ Park want, especially as Alexander Isak wishes to explore a transfer to Liverpool.
But is Benjamin Sesko going to end up in black and white?
Newcastle's pursuit of Benjamin Sesko
Sesko’s has been a name which has attracted it’s measure of attention on the English scene over the past year or so. Last summer, Arsenal wanted the Slovenian striker, wanted him bad, but failed to convince Leipzig to part with their young star, albeit with a gentleman’s agreement placed that he could jump ship in one year.
But the Gunners have since signed Viktor Gyokeres, and now Newcastle are primed for a shootout with Manchester United, who have no European football on the cards after finishing 15th in the league last year.
The plain truth, of course, is that the Red Devils remain one of the biggest outfits in the world, and their success in signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both of whom were chased by Newcastle and other top clubs besides, illustrates the concerns around pushing ahead for Sesko.
Of course, Newcastle must try. Sesko, 22, is one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers, having scored 39 goals and supplied eight assists across 87 matches for Leipzig, of which just 62 have come from the starting whistle.
He’s worth chasing, all right, but if Newcastle prove unable to get the job done, there’s another who has emerged as a candidate who might prove a fantastic signing.
Newcastle make enquiry for Sesko alternative
Newcastle have opened talks with Fulham for striker Rodrigo Muniz, making an enquiry for the Brazilian. That’s according to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, who also revealed that Newcastle are indeed locked in a battle with Man United, both teams having initiated contact.
However, the 24-year-old Muniz would be the ideal fallback, with the discussions with intermediaries leading the Toon to believe that a £40m bid could get the job done.
Newly-promoted Leeds United have also been in for Muniz this summer, but Howe will surely be confident that his team would win the battle, should their interest rise to the next level.
Why Newcastle want Rodrigo Muniz
With Isak reported to be training at his former club Real Sociedad’s facilities in Spain, there’s a growing sense that the damage is irreparable and that PIF should cash in for a record sum.
Especially given that the funds could be shrewdly redirected to a talent such as Muniz, who has been described as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” by his Cottagers teammate Willian.
Joining Fulham from Flamengo in 2021, Muniz has garnered a reputation for his clinical shooting under Marco Silva’s wing, ranked among the top 3% of Premier League forwards in 2024/25 for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref.
He might not start every week, but Muniz is always improving and would bring a guaranteed goal threat to Howe’s system, something Sesko cannot promise given that he only scored 13 times in the Bundesliga last year, and would be taking the daunting leap over to the English top-flight game.
Matches (starts)
26 (18)
31 (8)
Goals
9
8
Assists
1
1
Shots (on target)*
2.8 (1.0)
1.3 (0.6)
Big chances missed
4
5
Pass completion
62%
66%
Key passes*
0.7
0.2
Dribbles*
0.2
0.2
Tackles + interceptions*
0.5
0.5
Duels (won)*
4.6 (39%)
3.7 (52%)
Perhaps he is a centre-forward whose output comes in stacks, like bursts of fire with frustrating pauses in between. But even so, there’s no denying the South American’s natural coolness in front of goal.
Indeed, he’s missed just nine big chances across his past two years in the Premier League, scoring 17 times.
Looking at Sesko in the Bundesliga across the same timeframe, the 22-year-old has missed 18 big chances, scoring 24 goals.
Not much to separate them, then. But Sesko is unrefined, yet to tap into those tubes of potential and direct them all to a nucleus which has yet to fully form.
How many times have we seen an exciting talent arrive in England only to fall by the wayside? Instead, Newcastle could sign a player who has proven themselves in the division and would be joining a team with bucketloads of creative flair.
Of course, given the sheer depth of financial recoupment that would come from Isak’s sale to Liverpool, there is no reason why Howe could not welcome both stars to St. James’ Park this summer.
Muniz is tough and tenacious, with his physical style leading pundit Alan Shearer to say he’s “horrible to play against.” Newcastle need a bit of that, marrying into the high technical quality of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and the like.
This clinical striker would add a dimension to Howe’s project, no doubt, and while Sesko’s potential is exciting to think about, there’s every chance he would take a while to get up to speed on English soil, should he even reach his lofty potential at all.
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