Newcastle and Marseille in ‘serious talks’ with Serbia international worth just £13m.
Newcastle United and Marseille are in ‘direct talks’ with the Serbian international’s representatives, according to reports.
Newcastle are preparing for a trip to Crystal Palace
Newcastle will head to Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon for a 2pm Premier League kick-off that has quiet but real significance for both clubs.
Crystal Palace sit in 14th place with 39 points while the Magpies are just three places above them, and as the season enters its final stretch, neither team can afford to slip further.
Palace came under pressure from Thursday’s 3-0 Conference League win over Fiorentina, although the European effort added a new layer to Oliver Glasner’s fatigue management.
Newcastle beat Palace 2-0 at St James’ Park in January and have a better recent record, but Selhurst Park is a different proposition.
Eddie Howe has confirmed that Bruno Guimarães will miss out after contracting the measles on his return from international duty with Brazil, an illness rather than an injury that has disrupted his preparations.
Fabian Schär is also absent following a foot infection that required a minor procedure, which ruled him out for about a month.
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The Blues are now able to attack St. James’.
With Lewis Miley also a doubt, Newcastle will face the trip south with their midfield significantly depleted. Howe also revealed that Guimarães could remain a doubt even for the next Bournemouth game.
Away from the club’s concerns, the club’s summer recruitment is already making headlines – and the latest comes from Serbia.
Newcastle in concrete talks with representatives of Ognjen Ugresic
According to German outlet Fussballeuropa.com, Newcastle are in serious talks with representatives of Ognjen Ugresic, Partizan Belgrade’s highly regarded midfielder who has become one of the most sought-after young players in European football.
Marseille are also involved in his camp, and many other clubs are tracking his situation, but Newcastle’s interest has reached an active stage.
Gresic is 19 years old and has come through Partizan’s academy, where he has developed into a first-team player and ‘fan favourite’.
The CIES Football Observatory ranked him the most advanced player per 90 minutes among midfielders under 20 and outside of Europe’s five major leagues in January (Substack)— data that underlines why the wider European public has a strong interest.
He operates in the middle of the attacking midfield and has provided nine goals in 36 competitive games this season.
His style of play has drawn comparisons to Jude Bellingham, a reference whose technical quality and forward-running qualities have caught the eye of scouts across the continent.
Ugresic also entered the senior international level with Serbia.
The financial picture is straightforward by Premier League standards.
Partizan want €15m – around £13m – for a player who would have cost a fraction of that price just two years ago.
His contract runs until 2030 following an extension signed last May, giving the Belgrade club some negotiating power.
At Newcastle, the fee is more manageable compared to the figures discussed about their strongest targets such as Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, whose future has generated a lot of attention.
Whether Newcastle can establish a clear advantage over Marseille in the coming weeks will depend on how both parties can move from initial discussions to concrete proposals.
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