Newcastle United ‘likely’ to green light move for £66m star ‘superior to Erling Haaland’ after offer

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The Italian press appear to think Newcastle United are going to go out and splash some serious cash this summer.

While that is hopefully the case to at least some extent, it’s important to remember what Newcastle United have actually done in the transfer market under owners PIF.

The Newcastle United owners just haven’t gone and signed big-name superstars. They’ve largely focused on signing younger players who can develop under Eddie Howe. 

It’s a strategy that has worked, so claims the Toon Army are interested in some of Europe’s most established stars seem strange. Indeed, Newcastle were linked with Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who seems well out of their price range. 

Well, perhaps unsurprisingly, more bizarre claims from the Italian press have emerged in regard to Dusan Vlahovic.

• Every player linked with Newcastle in summer transfer window: Latest news and prices on Eddie Howe’s targets

Newcastle United ‘leading race’ for Dusan Vlahovic

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Newcastle are at the front of the queue to sign the Juventus forward and it was “likely” they would move. 

Vlahovic has been offered to Newcastle and his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026. Back in January 2022, Sky Sports revealed the Turin giants had paid £66million to sign the Serbian international from Fiorentina.

He had scored 49 goals in 108 games for Fiorentina and excitement was high. In fact, Serbian FA president Nenad Bjekovic even told Tuttosport he was “more complete” than Manchester City star, Erling Haaland.

“The Norwegian has devastating power, but Dusan is no less,” he said.

“There are only a few centimetres of difference between the two, but the variety of shots and plays of the Juventus centre-forward is superior.”

Still, it’s not really worked out for him at Juve. Vlahovic has scored 56 goals in 142 games, but the Turin giants have struggled to live up to former glories in recent seasons.

How Eddie Howe feels about signing Dusan Vlahovic

Howe would be happy to sign Vlahovic, but the costs involved just look prohibitive.

Vlahovic is on a huge salary at Juventus and is not even guaranteed to start at Newcastle given the presence of Alexander Isak in the squad. 

Though obviously a striker of some pedigree, spending huge sums on a player who would surely start at a lot of other leading European clubs just does not feel likely. 

Newcastle do need a striker to cover and compete with Isak in equal measure but moving for an established star already commanding big money doesn’t fit in with everything the club have done thus far, particularly when they’re not guaranteed a start.