Newcastle United hijack claim as Leeds United agree £20m deal - medical next
Newcastle United are eyeing a centre-back this summer - but they won’t be signing this Leeds United-bound player.
Newcastle United were linked with hijacking one of Leeds United’s transfers - but it was a very short-lived ‘saga’.
The Magpies are in the market for a new central defender this summer and are again showing interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, a year on from their failed pursuit.
Guehi was head coach Eddie Howe’s top transfer target last year, however, Newcastle were ultimately left frustrated by Palace, who demanded around £70million. But with the 24-year-old now into the remaining 12 months of his contract, this could be the South London outfit’s last opportunity to cash in.
That said, Guehi isn’t the only player United are tracking, with other targets kept under wraps... for now.
Newcastle United linked with Leeds United-bound Jaka Bijol
Is - or was - one of them Udinese defender Jaka Bijol? Well, reports from Sky Sport Switzerland on Monday morning claimed Newcastle had joined newly-promoted Leeds in the race for the 26-year-old.
The report read: “What's more, Newcastle have recently entered the race for the Slovenian's signature. The Italian club, who are due to pay a percentage of the player's upcoming sale to CSKA Moscow, are hoping to secure at least 20 million euros for their talent.
“On a personal level, Jaka Bijol has already agreed to join England, but the Magpies' new interest could change that, as the right-footed defender had already agreed personal terms on a contract running until June 2029 with the newly promoted club.”
However, in a matter of hours, claims of the Magpies’ interest were quashed when transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed Leeds had agreed a deal to sign the Slovenian.
Romano posted on X: “Leeds United agree deal to sign Jaka Bijol from Udinese, club-to-club deal done and here we go! Agreement for €22m transfer fee add-ons included and personal terms also in place for centre back to join #LUFC. New defender set for medical soon.”
The summer transfer window is officially open
After the initial 10-day temporary transfer window ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, the summer transfer window proper opened on Monday (June 16) and will last until September 1.
As well as a centre-back, Howe is hoping to bolster his attack with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro and Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest heavily favoured. However, with the pair likely to command up £60m each, a deal won’t be plain sailing.
Similar to Guehi, Newcastle tried to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and would have done so had Forest not demanded Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR swindle that saw Elliot Anderson move to the City Ground.
Trafford would have cost £20m last summer, whereas this time around, he’s valued closer to £40m after his heroics helped the Clarets earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Talks between the two clubs have taken place but as it stands, a deal is not close.