A collage image of Arne Slot and Eddie Howe. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images and Richard Pelham/Getty Images.)
Newcastle will be looking to strengthen their squad this winter but are facing difficulties in trying to land PSV’s brilliant right winger, Johan Bakayoko.
According to CaughtOffside sources, the Magpies have been quietly tracking the 21-year-old for some time, however, Liverpool have now entered the picture and are believed to be in a better financial position than their Premier League rivals.
Newcastle need to sell before they can buy Johan Bakayoko
That will be crucial given that the Eredivisie outfit are reported to want at least €60m for the player’s services and to get everyone around the table.
Given that he’s already plundered nine goals and assists in 21 games this season (transfermarkt), one can understand the Dutch giant’s reasons for wanting to play hard ball.
The other advantage that Liverpool have of course is Arne Slot’s knowledge of and respect for Dutch football.
Having presided over a fantastic Feyenoord side, the 46-year-old and his way of working will be well known to Bakayoko.
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With former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, likely to stop his successor moving for Xavi Simons, Slot won’t want to lose out on Bakayoko.
Sources further advance that PSV are loathe to sell the player in January, but concede that it will be a possibility if any club offers their asking price.
At present, all of Bayern Munich, Nottingham Forest, Al Hilal, Paris Saint Germain, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund are also following Bakayoko, but theirs is a watching brief at present as they wait and see how things pan out over the next few weeks.
Newcastle know that if they want to land the player, that they will need to sell before they can buy, and that would potentially explain why they are making one 27-year-old available for sale.
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