- Newcastle United agree deal for Zadok Yohanna
- Chelsea also have bid accepted
- The Nigerian has decision to make
Newcastle United and Chelsea have reportedly had bids for AIK winger Zadok Yohanna accepted. The two Premier League clubs are now going toe-to-toe for the Nigerian.
According to Mail Sport, both clubs’ offers were worth around €25m (£21.6m). The Magpies and the Blues met AIK’s valuation of the 18-year-old, who is in high demand.
Brighton & Hove Albion have held talks with the Swedish outfit while Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Rennes and Borussia Dortmund are admirers. If the winger chooses St James’ Park, he could become Eddie Howe’s second summer signing.
Newcastle and Chelsea battle for Yohanna
Newcastle have already got their business sorted early after agreeing a deal to sign French goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Rennes. The 20-year-old is set to become the club’s first acquisition in the transfer window.
Yohanna is next on the agenda and the Magpies are now battling Chelsea for the winger. The report claims that he is looking for a first-team pathway and will now choose between the two clubs.
Howe might get his man because the youngster is prioritising first-team opportunities. Xabi Alonso is taking charge at Stamford Bridge and he already has a stacked pool of wingers in his squad.
The chances of Yohanna earning regular game time in West London aren’t high. The Blues are awaiting the arrival of Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP, another wide man to add to the list.
A decent start to summer
Newcastle are showing they mean business after a difficult season, which saw them fail to qualify for Europe. Howe’s men finished 12th in the Premier League and will be without European football next season.
There is now huge pressure on the transfer chiefs delivering on the recruitment side. The squad needs a massive reset, and the arrival of Jaouen is a good start to hand Howe a new goalkeeper.
Out wide, Anthony Gordon has left for Barcelona in a £69m deal. It’s highly unlikely that Yohanna will replace the English forward as a starter but he’ll surely be handed more senior opportunities than if he opts to join Chelsea.
There are huge expectations of the Nigerian who appeared 12 times this season, posting five goals and four assists. A pacey and tricky winger, he could light up St James’ Park for years to come.
