---
title: "Newcastle linked with move for Jozo Simunovic"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2016/10/24/newcastle-linked-move-jozo-simunovic/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2016-10-24T11:10:42Z"
modified: "2016-10-24T14:57:29Z"
---

# Newcastle linked with move for Jozo Simunovic

Newcastle are battling Crystal Palace in the race to sign highly-rated Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic, according to the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3862928/Celtic-defender-Jozo-Simunovic-monitored-Premier-League-duo-Crystal-Palace-Newcastle.html).

The 22-year-old only joined Celtic during the 2015 summer transfer window from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb for a fee in the region of £6.4m and impressed in his debut season last term.

However, his season was derailed after a knee ligament injury suffered in January which ended his season after just 17 appearances for the club.

![Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport](https://production-354f.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2016/10/614827820.jpg)

Simunovic did catch the eye of potential suitors in the little time he played for Celtic, with Torino nearly completing a £4m move for the centre-back in the summer but the move fell through due to the structure of the payments, while the Serie A side also raised questions over his fitness following the knee injury.

Since returning from that knee injury, Simunovic has featured in six-straight games for Celtic as he bids to return to last season’s form.

Capped nine times by the Croatian U21 set-up, Simunovic is someone that Brendan Rodgers want’s to keep hold of.

> He is a big talent. If you look at his profile, he is 6ft 3in, he is very dominant, strong, quick, can serve the ball and for a young player shows a wonderful mentality. He is a player I really like and hopefully he can stay fit.

Both Newcastle and Crystal Palace are monitoring his situation and tracking his progress, presumably ahead of a January swoop.

You would imagine if Newcastle were to make a summer move then one of Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ciaran Clark or Grant Hanley would be leaving the club.