Newcastle United would have to make Ozan Kabak one of their highest-paid players if they want to sign the defender this summer.
A report from The Sun has claimed the central defender is hoping to secure wages of £80,000-a-week if he is to return to the Premier League.
Kabak is said to be on Newcastle’s transfer radar.
The 21-year-old is now back at parent club Schalke after spending the second-half of 2020/21 on loan at Liverpool.
It’s been reported the player will be offered to Newcastle, who wanted him back in January.
The Magpies were unsuccessful in signing the Turkey international after the Reds push hard amid their injury crisis.
Kabak could come back to the English top-flight and apparently a number of clubs are keen.
But £80,000-a-week wages potentially complicate matters.
At Newcastle, according to Spotrac, only one player currently earns more than that weekly – and that’s forward Joelinton on £86,500-a-week.
Next is Andy Carroll (£75,000-a-week), who could leave with his contract expiring, and then Jonjo Shelvey (£70,000-a-week).
Allan Saint-Maximin is also believed to earn £75,000-a-week (The Athletic).
Newcastle could be priced out
Even though players such as Federico Fernandez and Carroll are likely to leave, it’s still a big wage demand from Kabak.
It’s also been reported he could cost £18 million, so the money involved to pull off this transfer could price Newcastle out.
It is thought that money is tight for the Magpies this summer, and so Kabak for £18 million and £80,000-a-week would not really constitute great value, considering the financial situation.
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