- Newcastle United interested in Vlahovic
- Contractual demands causing issues for linked clubs
- Could Vlahovic actually work on Tyneside?
The free agency market is always one of the most intriguing come the end of any season. There are always a few big names out of contract who attract interest from all over the world of football.
But it is becoming more and more common for those players to almost entirely negate the positive impacts of a free deal with the money they ask for. Not just in their contracts, but also by way of signing-on bonuses and agent fees.
Dusan Vlahovic appears set to be another one of those. A report by TEAMtalk has claimed that, whilst his wage demands aren’t extortionate for the Premier League clubs interested, the other areas of the financial package his camp are demanding are causing a stumbling block.
Newcastle United are one of those clubs interested in the Serbian’s signature, but with the other areas of priority this summer and a budget to adhere to, the Magpies must be cautious in pursuing a deal for Vlahovic and examine every possible scenario. Especially if the expected package is as large as reports suggest.
Vlahovic’s demands cause trouble
Not only are Vlahovic’s financial demands risking putting off the interested parties, but they are actually the reason that Juventus stepped away from negotiations to keep him at the club.
It is reported that Vlahovic only wants around £150,000 per week in wages, which would place him at the upper echelon of Newcastle United’s wage structure but not quite out of the realm of possibility.
Whilst it is not yet entirely clear exactly how much Vlahovic is looking to get in bonuses and extra fees, it is those extra factors that are causing a barrier to entry for the Magpies and some other interested parties.
Contact between Vlahovic’s camp and possible destinations for the striker has yet to find any solution to the issue either, with the Serbian not said to be keen on tempering his expectations to get a deal done.
Besiktas are currently said to be the most likely destination, with the Turkish side more than happy to pay the extortionate fees that are being demanded.
Why Newcastle should be cautious with Vlahovic
The temptation that brought the Magpies’ interest to a head was the fact that no transfer fee would have to be paid for the Serbian.
Newcastle United are working on a one-out, one-in type model of recruitment this summer. This means that the loan market is seen as an area of possible exploitation to bring in more players than are let go.
That is what has sparked the interest in the likes of Darwin Nunez and Vlahovic. But if the Magpies have to fork out massive contractual fees to entice those players to the club, that would erase the point of the interest in the first place.
Given the £115m+ spent on strikers last summer, all of which didn’t work out, it simply isn’t viable to blow another chunk of the transfer budget on a centre-forward.
Eddie Howe will likely still have at least one of Wissa and Woltemade, the big-money signings, in the squad next summer. To bring in another ‘star’ player on big wages and bonuses could well see the exact same performance issues as last season arise again if they turn out not to be good enough.
Big money spent, not enough output.
Why it might just work
There is an opposing argument to signing Vlahović, though.
Given the calibre of other clubs interested in his services, getting a deal over the line would be a massive coup and show that Newcastle mean business heading into next season.
There have also been reports that the Magpies are looking into signing players like Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia for a £50m transfer fee, irrespective of any extra contractual costs. If that is the case, then would it really be that silly to go and get Vlahovic?
The Serb has a very respectable goal record in Serie A, having scored double-figure goals in six of his eight full seasons in senior football. He is also only 26 years of age and would be able to grow with the club as he heads into his prime years.
Say Newcastle decided it was time to cut their losses with Yoane Wissa this summer, or Nick Woltemade, for that matter; Vlahovic could be a very exciting replacement that could right the wrongs of last summer’s business with his goal threat alone.
There are a lot of permutations and nuances to look at with a deal for Vlahovic. But the key thing for the Magpies is making sure every possible financial scenario is vetted properly to avoid being stuck with a needlessly large contract and not enough footballing return.
