The Mirror is reporting today that Newcastle are close to signing Anderlecht striker Aleksandar and that is backed up to some extent by a report in HLN.be in Belgium, that says the Serbian International completed his last training session at Anderlecht yesterday and was smiling when he signed autographs for the Serbian fans for the last time.
Aleksandar Mitrovic training with Anderlecht yesterday
For the last time reports HLN.be
HLN.be reports that negotiations are still ongoing at Newcastle, but there seem to be no fresh reports of Roma, Porto or Benfica making a last minute deal with Anderlecht for the striker.
That could still happen but Anderlecht will not wait too much longer, especially when Newcastle are willing to pay €18M in cash up front – that’s around £12.6M.
But the Mirror is more positive and says that Mitrovic will be Newcastle’s second signing of the summer, following the signing of Dutch International Georginio Wijnaldum yesterday.
Newcastle officials are still in the process of convincing the player and his family that Newcastle is the best place for him to go, and it would appear that Newcastle’s is still the only viable bid on the table for him.
It’s really good news and bad news – good news that it would appear Newcastle have lodged the only legitimate offer to Anderlecht, but bad news that it’s taking so long to convince him and his family to join the Magpies.
We suppose just like Georginio Wijnaldum turned down a lucrative move to PSG last summer because the time just wasn’t right, we suppose there’s a possibility Aleksandar could do the same thing.
Newcastle are offering him a lucrative five year deal.
Last season he scored 28 goals in 51 games for Anderlecht, and in his two seasons in Belgium, the former Partizan striker scored 44 goals in 91 appearances and he already has 13 caps for Serbia.
Update: Mitrovic didn’t play for Anderlecht today but watched from the stands, and there are reports his parents are now in Newcastle, along with his agent – as they discuss the move with Newcastle officials.
Comments welcome.
111 comments so far
Ibizatoon
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:48 AM
Comment #1£18m is £12.6m?
Give us a currency Ed! 🙂
As for “Runaround £12.6m”2…is this a new fitness regime for wor Mike? Makes sense, could motivate him. I bet he looks splendid all kitted out in SD gear too.
Ibizatoon
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:49 AM
Comment #2Dear dear, can’t even quote properly.
18m is 12m….No currency given Ibiza, so why did you?
It’s alright, I’ll see myself out.
Where’s the door again?
BandB
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:50 AM
Comment #3Stay away from that Acme gear Ibiza.
It’s lethal.
Ibizatoon
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:52 AM
Comment #4BandB…So I’ve seen. It’s just that it’s littered all over the place at the minute.
This place could do with a good summer clear out.
Do you hear that ticking?
the ledge
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:52 AM
Comment #5would love to see him sign ,going to be a world class striker in the next few years
Belfast
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:56 AM
Comment #6Somebody mentioned the other day he might have trouble getting a work permit. I wonder if the club have looked in to this ? With Charnley in charge probably not.
ronaldo aarons
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:57 AM
Comment #7Funkness from previous thread
I do agree we need some wingers, I’ve been saying this for ages. Like you say we have aarons but have no one else in case he gets injured. We have no one at all on the right. This is why I think we keep being linked to thauvin who is generally a winger and plays a little more on the right. Cabella is not a winger. Also we’ve been linked with rolan of Bordeaux who I rate a lot. He is not a centre forward, like those who haven’t seen him play say, and usually plays on the right of a three. He too is worth looking at. He has a knack of ghosting in from the right to score goals and is clever in his movement as he is usually not picked up. Very good player. Quite Suarez esque in his movement actually.
JDdubai
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:58 AM
Comment #8Its only natural we have to convince him, he was playing CL footy last season and it one of the hottest prospects in europe at 20Yrs old.
If we didnt have a hard job to convince him then he would just be a mercenary who wanted the money.
Still Lets see what happens, think if he does sign it will be for 2 years max before moving on but if he does well for us for 2 years then we will make a good profit and good luck to him- maybe even we will have become so fantastic and in Europe that he will want to stay longer????
mickalfas
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:00 PM
Comment #9Get him signed up
Get a few good years out of him and city might pay £50m when he’s only 24
No brainer really
firebug666
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:02 PM
Comment #10I’m really unsure on Mitrovic, we are not his first choice, but we apparently are the only ones in with a bid for him, yet with all this umming and erring from the player,and waiting for a better offer I think we should just move on to another target.
I’m sure for the money being offered we could bring in another decent striker.
Belfast
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Comment #11Ibizatoon// Jul 12, 2015 at 11:50 AM
I had heard there’s two sharks swimming in the blue bit.
http://blog.marketo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cross-the-line.jpg
JP...from The Rock
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:06 PM
Comment #12I really hope we sign Mitrovic up. It sure is taking long. Do you guys think Charnley will sign him up even with McClaren in America or will he wait till the manager is back?
I also agree that we desperately need wingers too. I don’t want to see Obertan and Gouffran in a Newcastle shirt again. They offer nothing and are way below our standards.
Ibizatoon
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Comment #13Belfast…(and a special thanks to Google)…
Dr. Evil: You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads! Now evidently my cycloptic colleague informs me that that cannot be done. Ah, would you remind me what I pay you people for, honestly? Throw me a bone here! What do we have?
Number Two: Sea Bass.
Dr. Evil: [pause] Right.
Number Two: They’re mutated sea bass.
Dr. Evil: Are they ill tempered?
Number Two: Absolutely.
Dr. Evil: Oh well, that’s a start.
banjax
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Comment #14The sins of under-investment are coming home to roost in the guise of a shambolic period showing lack of ambition. The lesson for Mike Ashley is being learned at every turn when players are hesitating to sign for those reasons. Wijnaldum is hopefully the start of a list of quality players coming to Newcastle for success as well as money. Ambition has to be demonstrated and Newcastle must keep up the momentum of improvement in every area of football, particularly in the area of regaining its once cherished reputation.
Reyantoon
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Comment #15Here is the Mirror’s quote re Mitrovic :
“Aleksandar Mitrovic’s family have landed on Tyneside as Newcastle tie up a deal forthe Serbian striker.Anderlecht are willing to do business at £12million and club officials are now convincing Mitrovic and relatives that Newcastle is the best place for him. Both Porto and Roma have been pursuing him, but the Steve McClaren era is finally swinging into life as Mitrovic is poised to sign a five-year deal..”
It seems we are not his first choice (we can’t fault him for that),but his preferred clubs,prob’y
Porto,Benfica and Roma,made other preferences than him.Roma will buy Dzeko,not sure about porto and benfica but we can’t say they are in short financially,esp porto.
Anyway,his transfer probably delayed because his current club and family have convincing job to do, to pack his back and come to sjp.As for the fee,Newcastle & Anderlecht have agreed!!
Belfast
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Comment #16Firebug basically we’re the ugly lady at the party, and we’ll only get our man if the attractive ladies go home.
This is the state of play.
mickalfas
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:11 PM
Comment #17JP
The problem is that they have been our standard for years ,big changes are afoot
Fingers crossed
Jib
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:12 PM
Comment #18Belfast
Fair point
It seems strange that Bulgaria and Romania are in the EU but Serbia isn’t
He probs will need a work permit as he will not have the requisite number of International caps.
Belfast
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:12 PM
Comment #19Frickinnnnnnnnnnnn laser beams 🙂
BandB
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:14 PM
Comment #20Belfast
That’s why you see so many ugly children.
Blackley and Brownlie
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:14 PM
Comment #21BandB
Re previous thread post – I don’t need to tell you who are Ashley’s biggest critics on this blog, which is a largely anti-Ashley blog. I’ve been the only one voicing my discontent that the target has become top 8 for this season when Ashley said he was targeting top 4 just a few weeks ago. Nobody except you has come out and agreed that we should be aiming for the stated target.
Belfast
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:15 PM
Comment #22Yes Jib somebody mentioned it the other day, and suggested we where the only english team interested because he wouldn’t be able to obtain a work permit in the uk.
You’d like to think the club have looked into this, though I’m not so sure.
BandB
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:15 PM
Comment #23Banjax,
I completely agree with you.
Whether you like it or not 🙂
firebug666
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:17 PM
Comment #24Belfast
Eloquently put!
My fear is simple, he does not really want to be with us, and therefore is unlikely to settle in, he is a player who will have his head turned in every transfer window where the press link his name to any other team.
With Roma, Porto and Benfica being most likely linked as they are this window.
He may prove me wrong, but it’s a worry bringing in a player who’s head is already elsewhere.
BandB
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Comment #25Blackley,
No you haven’t.
You are stating the misrepresentation in the middle of me getting it in the neck from chasing-rabbits for agreeing with you.
Even Jib, to his credit, does not go for Big Lie tactics in the way you do.
It is pathetic.
Belfast
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Comment #26Yes he may end up going home with the ugly lady so we’re still in with a chance but it all depends on what the attractive ladies want to do.
This is all for Jespers benefit by the way he’ll be along later asking tough questions.
Jib
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Comment #27Belfast
He must have got one for Belgium , he plays in a Stadium about 3 miles from the Euro Parliament
Ha ha ha
By the way when he signed for Anderlecht the family were heavily involved as well
Jib
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:20 PM
Comment #28BandB
Was that compliment what they call back – handed ?
honest fan
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:20 PM
Comment #29Not sure how it works Belfast but full international players usually don’t have many problems with permits
BandB
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Comment #30Jib….
You know I love you really.
I wouldn’t be without you for the world.
firebug666
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:23 PM
Comment #31He could get a conditional work permit, and maybe that’s what the hold up is, they may be waiting for that to come through before making an announcement.
Jib
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:24 PM
Comment #32Blackley
Are you McCreery from another blog ?
You have a very similar abrasive style with a lot of “look at me” thrown in.
mickalfas
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:27 PM
Comment #33Thanks to sky TV ,the attractive ladies don’t have the funds to match the ugly lady
Champions league v money
Let’s wait and see which is the more attractive
Blackley and Brownlie
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:29 PM
Comment #34BandB
I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve completely lost me. Unlike the bloggers I’m talking about, you’re the only one who appears to be holding Ashley to account to the full for his top 4 target. I can’t understand why the rest are giving him an easy ride.
chasing_rabbits
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:30 PM
Comment #35Ashley didn’t say he was targeting top 4 he said that he wasn’t going to sell until we had won something, and that finishing in the CL spots counted as winning something. He didn’t say, “we are targeting a top 4 finish next season”
So with that in mind, the “stated target” would in fact be minimum 8th place, which believe it or not I actually agree with you on. Glad we got there in the end. Anyway, its all about opinions, eh?!
BandB
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:30 PM
Comment #36Blackley,
Then I apologise.
Belfast
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:30 PM
Comment #37I think the rules for work permits in the uk where changed only a few months ago though. I know you have to have a certain about of caps or something but I remember reading they’ve made it harder for non eu members to obtain one.
.
expatmag
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:31 PM
Comment #38Jib
You dont know B & B by now??????
Shame on you. And I thought you recognised a total tosser from a distance!!!!!!……..lol
chasing_rabbits
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:32 PM
Comment #39We’re not giving him an easy ride because he didn’t say that top 4 was the target for next season. Go and watch the interview again to jog your memory, you must have been to sleep since then.
Moonraker15
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:32 PM
Comment #40It makes a difference when the ugly one is loaded! haha