Newcastle United and West Ham United ‘given green light’ to pursue £20m deal

Defender Borna Sosa is reportedly set to leave Bundesliga club Stuttgart during the January transfer window - amid claims Newcastle United and West Ham United have shown an interest in the highly-rated left-back.

Reports in Croatia earlier this season have suggested both Premier League clubs showed an interest in the 24-year-old during the summer transfer window and suggested his agent spent time in England working on the deal. A report in Index revealed Manchester City were also keen on a move for Sosa following the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko - but stated Sosa would ‘fit perfectly’ into Newcastle’s transfer strategy.

Speaking at the time about interest in Sosa and striker Sasa Kalajdzic, who would eventually join Wolves, Stuttgart coach Pellegrino Matarazzo said: we also know how fluid this business can be. One also had to take into account if they're ready to play. Whether or not they possess the proper attitude to perform is affected by the likelihood of a transfer going through."

A deal failed to come to fruition, but the former Dinamo Zagreb left-back has continued to impress for the Bundesliga club this season, providing seven assists in 12 appearances in all competitions, despite his side sitting in their bottom three after winning just league games. There have now been suggestions the financial situation at Stuttgart could force them to sell their prize asset after this winter’s World Cup Finals in Qatar.

German journalist Florian Plettenburg tweeted: “Excl. News Borna Sosa: The 24-year-old left back is set to leave Stuttgart in winter. VFB HAS TO sell him due to the financial situation! The club is expected €15-25m, depending on his performances at the WC (World Cup).”