Newcastle United are preparing for a significant shake-up in their forward line.
As uncertainty continues to surround Alexander Isak’s future, the club’s recruitment team have been working behind the scenes to line up a replacement.
The player they’ve identified won’t command the same fee as Isak, nor is he yet a household name in English football.
But what he does offer is an athletic profile and goal-scoring instinct that aligns with Eddie Howe’s system and, crucially, with Newcastle’s newest attacking addition: Anthony Elanga.
Big-money striker on the horizon for Newcastle
According to reports from Italy, Benjamin Šeško has agreed to personal terms with Newcastle on a contract that would keep him at the club until 2030.
The report reads that ‘Sesko has an agreement in principle’ at St James’ Park, but the club are now focused on reaching an agreement with RB Leipzig, where Šeško is under contract until 2029.
Newcastle have admired Šeško for some time, and it’s easy to see why their interest has reignited, even if he is valued at around £60m.
The 22-year-old striker enjoyed a successful season at Leipzig, scoring 21 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions, including 13 in the Bundesliga.
Bundesliga
13
DFB-Pokal
4
UEFA Champions League
4
This return is all the more impressive when you consider Leipzig’s underwhelming campaign: a seventh-place finish domestically and an early Champions League exit.
Why Elanga and Sesko makes sense
Elanga’s arrival from Nottingham Forest has already added a new dimension to Newcastle’s attacking patterns, scoring in their clash with Arsenal on Sunday.
Well, at Forest, Elanga found chemistry with Chris Wood.
While the Kiwi striker offered a traditional physical presence, it was his understanding of Elanga’s timing and delivery that allowed the pair to combine effectively.
“He’s so good at taking out his opposite number and then finding me,” Wood said. “We’ve developed a great partnership; he anticipates my movements and I his.”
Newcastle now appear to be betting on a similar dynamic – only this time, with a more mobile and higher-ceiling version of Wood.
At 194cm tall, Šeško offers a commanding physical presence, but his game is more than just height and strength.
He possesses impressive acceleration and mobility for his size, a rare combination that has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland.
Compared to Isak, Šeško trails in some attacking metrics. He recorded 18 goal involvements to Isak’s 29, with non-penalty expected goals of 8.4 to Isak’s 17.2.
According to data from FBref, his shot on target percentage (43.9%) actually slightly edges out Isak’s (43.2%), while his per-90 metrics for touches (36.2 vs. Isak’s 35.7) and shots on target (1.10 vs. 1.34) show he is consistently involved in forward play.
Šeško’s style complements Elanga’s perfectly. With his aerial dominance and ability to make sharp near-post runs, he becomes a natural target for Elanga’s whipped deliveries.
Last season, the Sweden international quietly posted some of the most creative numbers in the Premier League: 11 assists, with per-90 metrics placing him in the 94th percentile for both assists (0.40) and crosses (6.66), and the 93rd percentile for corners (3.09).
Šeško’s physicality means he can pin defenders and create space for Elanga to operate in wide areas, much like Wood did at Forest, but with more pace and finesse.
That pairing has the potential to be devastating. Elanga thrives when he has a clear reference point to aim for, a striker who knows how to time his movement and get across defenders.
Šeško, for all his physical gifts, has also shown sharp spatial awareness in the box.
His knack for finding space between centre-backs was a constant theme in his Bundesliga goals, and if he can build rapport with Elanga, Newcastle could unlock a new attacking avenue.
Under Howe, whose team press high and look to create quick attacking moments, Šeško’s physical tools and directness could be better leveraged.
What’s also enticing for Newcastle is the long-term potential. Still just 22, the Slovenian is younger than Isak.
His statistical profile is promising, but not yet polished, meaning Newcastle have the chance to mould him into a true Premier League forward.
With the striker reportedly ready to take the next step in his career, a Premier League move feels timely.
For now, the negotiations continue. But should Newcastle seal the deal, they won’t just be replacing Isak. In Šeško and Elanga, they could be assembling a modern-day duo with real chemistry – one that could trouble even the Premier League’s strongest defences.
Better signing than Wissa: Newcastle open talks to sign "the new Haaland"
With Alexander Isak potentially set to leave, and a move for Yoane Wissa now off the table, Newcastle have enquired about signing a “powerful” striker
ByBen GrayJul 28, 2025
