Newcastle lay down financial gauntlet for Vlahović

PIF-backed Newcastle United could be set to flex their financial muscle for one of the hottest properties on the continent after it was reported that the Magpies are prepared to lay down a €100million offer for Fiorentina’s Serbian starlet Dušan Vlahović.

Flush with new financial backing via their new ownership group, Newcastle is willing to spend a club-record sum on the Serbian international according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.it in a bid to kick off their rebuild project in earnest.

#Fiorentina – #Grassia: “Offerta da 100 milioni dal #Newcastle per #Vlahovic” https://t.co/Lz7XPWyd0u

— calciomercato.it (@calciomercatoit) December 16, 2021

Interest in the 21-year-old Belgrade-native has continued to increase this season after his breakout 2020-21 campaign at the Artemio Franchi, with Vlahović sitting third among strikers in Europe’s top-five leagues with 15-goals in Serie A this term.

That total is enough to put him ahead of the likes of Mohamed Salah, Ciro Immobile, Karim Benzema, and Erling Haaland while sitting just behind Bundesliga pair Robert Lewandowski and Patrick Schick.

A veritable whose-who of European football have monitored the Serbian hitman since the tail-end of last season, with Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Juventus just some of the big clubs linked with interest in acquiring his services.

January move unlikely for Serbian starlet

But Vlahović is not keen on a move during the January window in the midst of what is an outstanding season on a personnel level after the Partizan Belgrade academy graduate has staked his claim as one of the top young talents on the continent.

Though Newcastle is capable of tabling a bid that Fiorentina would undoubtedly accept, the Magpies may struggle to convince the Serbian star to join the project at St. James’ Park amid interest from some of Europe’s leading clubs.

“We’ll have our game plan and we’ll go there ready to perform.”#LIVNEW

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 16, 2021

That leaves Newcastle in a bind when it comes to their rebuilding program under new boss Eddie Howe as the club still sits among the bottom three in the Premier League as they prepare to take on free-scoring Liverpool tonight.

For all their newly-found riches thanks to the Public Investment Fund-led ownership consortium, the club has failed to make progress with any concrete transfer plans as the January window creeps closer.

In this case, money cannot buy you happiness, or convince players to join a relegation battle.