Newcastle hold talks to sign £20m winger

As much as Newcastle United supporters expected the Saudi PIF to make them a dominant force in the Premier League, the last two years have been a reminder of where the club are in the food chain.

Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent in the transfer market in recent seasons – undoubtedly allowing Eddie Howe to end the Magpies’ 70-year wait for a piece of silverware.

However, within the last two years, the board have been forced to cash in on numerous key talents to balance the books and satisfy the demands of players who wanted to move to a side competing for league titles.

Elliot Anderson was sold to Nottingham Forest to avoid a PSR punishment from the Premier League – not to mention deals which saw Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak join Barcelona and Liverpool respectively.

Despite the transfer window only being open for 10 days, the supporters have once again seen yet more evidence of the harsh nature of being a club not within the big six.

Newcastle offered deal to sign talented European youngster

It looked almost certain Newcastle were going to secure the signature of winger Victor Munoz from LaLiga side Osasuna this summer – with the player even agreeing personal terms with Howe’s men.

However, a last-minute hijack from transfer nemesis Liverpool has seen the Spaniard star choose a move to Anfield over a switch to St James’ Park ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

It’s not the first time the Reds have scuppered the Magpies’ summer transfer plans after pulling off a similar deal to sign striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt less than 12 months ago.

As a result, the hierarchy have been forced to explore moves for other attacking talents in Europe – leading them to Bayer Leverkusen sensation Kerim Alajbegovic.

According to journalist Craig Hope, Newcastle have been offered a deal during talks with the player’s agent in recent weeks, with a huge summer move on the cards for the Bosnian international.

The report states that no offer has yet been made for the 18-year-old left-winger, who managed to net 13 goals in his 44 appearances across all competitions for RB Salzburg last term.

Other outlets have said a deal for the teenager could cost around the £20m mark, with Roma another outfit also said to be keen on securing a move for the attacker this summer.

Why Alajbegovic would be a bigger talent than Munoz for Newcastle

Gordon’s recent departure to join Spanish giants Barcelona has only heightened the need for added attacking reinforcements at St James’ Park this window.

A move for Munoz appeared to be a formality, subsequently agreeing a deal for the 22-year-old who netted six times in Spain’s top division last campaign.

Liverpool’s hijack of the move will no doubt be a bitter blow for Howe and the recruitment team, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Magpies in the months ahead.

Extensive work is undoubtedly being conducted to land a new left-winger this summer, with the addition of a new forward now becoming the main priority on Tyneside.

As a result, a whole host of stars across Europe will be monitored, which could see the club secure a bargain transfer for Alajbegovic in the months ahead.

The Bosnian international may be an unknown quantity to many supporters, but he’s a player who will no doubt develop into one of the continent’s biggest attacking talents.

Last season was his first season as a professional, but it’s safe to say it didn’t stop him from flourishing in Austria – subsequently producing some mind-boggling figures.

Alajbegovic registered a staggering tally of 1.6 shots on target per 90 in the Austrian Bundesliga, subsequently notching nearly two times more efforts per 90 than former target, Munoz.

The aforementioned figure also ranks him in the top 4% of wingers across Europe – highlighting his phenomenal ability to trouble the opposition goalkeeper on a consistent basis.

The 18-year-old also created 1.7 chances per 90 for his teammates last term – another tally which is just shy of two times higher than that of the former Osasuna winger.

Alajbegovic’s direct and relentless nature is highlighted in his higher take-on success rate, not to mention his better tally of successful crosses completed per 90.

It’s very rare for a teenager to break through into the senior game and nail his place down as one of a club’s most important players – but that’s exactly what the Bosnian did in 2025/26.

He’s already showcased that he’s capable of producing the goods within forward areas on a consistent basis – even managing to outperform Munoz in that regard.

£20m for a player of his star quality and mind-boggling potential would be a phenomenal piece of business and one the Magpies desperately need to complete this window.