There is a report in the La Derniere Heure (DH.be) in Belgium that Newcastle are giving Aleksandar Mitrovic an ultimatum and he has 48 hours to decide whether he wants to join Newcastle.
If he says no then Newcastle will move ahead quickly for other striker targets.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – ultimatum
Two players who could be leaving Anderlecht imminently are Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba, and the team photographs will be taken today both with and without those two players.
Both players will also not be included in the squad to play two friendlies this week in Heist-op-den-Berg against Lazio on Wednesday and Sunday.
The report says Newcastle are well aware that Mitrovic still has his doubts about Newcastle, and really wants to join a club that plays in the Champions League, but they are giving him 48 hours to make a decision.
Newcastle had the family over to look around Newcastle, St. James Park and the training fields over the weekend, and his father Ivica is the one likely to make the decision.
This is some of the report in La Derniere Heure translated from the French:
¨Newcastle are well aware of the doubts of the player and his entourage (no European Cup, difficult season last year), but quickly want to know if they accept the offer or not.¨
¨Newcastle will give 48 hours for the Serbian to decide, after his father and younger brother returned to Belgrade to reflect on the Newcastle offer.¨
Aleksandar is being offered a five year contract at Newcastle that more than doubles the wages he gets at Anderlecht, but he could still turn down Newcastle.
Porto are waiting in the wings, and he also seems to prefer the weather in Spain and Rome (Roma are also interested) to that in Newcastle.
If that’s an issue for him, then he shouldn’t sign for Newcastle.
This is a good and sensible move by Newcastle, because if Aleksandar doesn’t want to come, there’s plenty of work to be done to bring in two new strikers within the next three weeks, so we have them before the Premier League season starts.
Now for the wait to see what he decides.
If we had to hazard a guess, we’d say he will turn Newcastle down and take his chances on a Champions League club coming in for him.
But we’ve been wrong before ……
Comments welcome.
161 comments so far
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:36 AM
Comment #41overrated
Italy and Portugal have signed up to the Schengen Agreement. The UK so far hasn’t.
beermonkey
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:36 AM
Comment #42jayphoto
who is Chancel Mbemba
Tsunki
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:37 AM
Comment #43The visa restrictions aren’t the desk breakers imo. Players move about the continent pretty freely, it’s a sophisticated process and these lads are up to all the tricks. I agree with Slank actually the key to all this prevarication may lie with Mitreblocks current club who will tire pretty quickly as they have a squad to settle in themselves. There could be a bit of pushing as well as jumping soon
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:38 AM
Comment #44Overrated,
Not for Mitrovic. Serbs have free movement in the Schengen zone which contains Italy and Portugal.
Jib
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:38 AM
Comment #45We may even return to Wolfsburg for Bas Dost !
thegaffer
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:40 AM
Comment #46Wolfsburg being greedy; NUFC priced out for Dost.
Dragon64
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Comment #47we can only guess why this deal has been going on for so long and there has to be a time to say is he taken the p*ss and if so move on quickly
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:42 AM
Comment #48Skunki…it did on the majority!
…but thanks for the French lesson anyway…I get alot of language lessons these days especially from Jail (though that one is probably advisable to disregard)
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Comment #49pretty sure we haven’t heard or seen the last Andy Carroll to Newcastle article this summer….
Personally got a small feeling he’ll come in after Mitrovic on loan….
Mitrovic has been told he will be the 1st choice striker, can’t see Austin coming in as second choice. Pretty sure Bilic doesn’t want Carroll, theyre bidding for strikers right and left… nowhere will buy Carroll because of the injury record… a loan back to his home club to try and repair his reputation would probably suit all parties.
Coming in as a second choice striker to a mitrovic would probably see Carroll play the level of minutes his body will allow him to play without breaking (25/30 mins most games, maybe 12-15 starts)
On a side note about Carroll, I’ve mentioned before I had a mate that did conditioning under Allardyce. He labelled Carroll (and viduka) as the worst trainers hes worked with. Said Carroll had a good attitude but no pain threshold and low determination and heart to push through the wall. Also said he couldn’t understand how carroll jumped so high as his leg muscles weren’t that strong and he struggled with the weight training because of it. Reckons the conditioning is definitely linked to the injuries.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Comment #50It looks more to me like the 2 clubs haven’t actually agreed a fee, as reported by a number of outlets over the last few days.
Zahavi has been quoted saying terms on a 5 year deal have been agreed and his family have visited/are still in town. The fact Mitrovic hasn’t travelled suggests that the fee hasn’t been agreed, but Anderlecht have allowed talks to happen as they expect it to be resolved.
If there is an ultimatum, it could well be to Anderlecht to accept our bid, which is less than they want, but more than others are willing to pay.
The overrated Frenchman
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Comment #51Thanks Ron and Lilo. I’ve learned something.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:46 AM
Comment #52Overrated,
Every day’s a school day.
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:46 AM
Comment #53@beermonkey – Mbemba is an African defender plays for Anderlecht! Can play right back, left back and centreback. Really good player actually, just a bit dodgy because hes Congolese, the birth details aren’t hardly stellar from there. His world cup 2014 registration he put he was born in 1994 but for his 2012 AFCON he’s stated he was born in 1991…. also, he looks about 35….
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:47 AM
Comment #54Lilongwe
I’d be interested to know if his family are still on Tyneside. Ed seems to think they’ve left.
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:48 AM
Comment #55oh on Mbemba, his African club where he came through the youth team had his birthdate as 1988…. hes apparently been born 3 times…
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:51 AM
Comment #56Jesper
Im only a member so if there is any spare away tickets after St have had there chance then yes I go to away matches.
Just got my tickets today actually for the saints game as they have just gone on sale to members.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:51 AM
Comment #57Ron,
Not sure on his family, but I saw somewhere that Zahavi was still in town yesterday. I think he is also the agent for Cabella though, so that could be another reason why he is here – and I’ve read he is Thauvin’s so lots of angles on that.
It just would be a very strange move for an agent to announce that terms have been agreed when they haven’t.
Mr Magpie
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Comment #58Hibbit/YCMIU
Yeah defence is definitely the priority, two new first choice Cb’s in to allow Coloccini & Williamson to leave. Keep Taylor, Lascelles, Good & Dummett as cover & bonus of homegrown.
Then rb cover & a decent lb to challenge Haidara for the position are all needed to shore up our defence which for me is by far our weakest area of the team.
Mitrovic in & another if Cisse was to be sold, otherwise I’d be content to start with Mitrovic, Cisse, Perez, Riviere & Armstrong as strikers as long as they sorted out the defence.
Slank
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:55 AM
Comment #59Dragon64 @ 47
I disagree that he maybe taking the Michael.
He is only trying to get the best deal for himself and perhaps his family but there maybe factors (as Jib @ 21 pointed out) outside of his or his agents control.
At his young age and coming to the toughest league in the world and possibly one of its most demanding clubs which has struggled in recent years does require a lot of thought. He is probably a ‘big fish in a small pond’ where he is now but many before him have failed to make the grade moving to the UK in a more demanding circumstances.
It was easier for Wijnaldum as he speaks good English and has many Dutch colleagues already at the club to ease him in. I’m sure there are no Serbs at the club. And I’m not sure he speaks English.
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:56 AM
Comment #60Edin Dzeko’s move to Roma from Manchester City is being delayed by a disagreement in the transfer fee, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Roma are reportedly offering 15million euros plus 3million in add-ons, but City will not settle for less than 25million.
This maybe why there is an hitch in the Mitro saga .
Although would be disappointed if we were to lose out on the kid. I think we are doing the right thing ingiving him an ultimatum, so we can move on to our next target
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #61Wouldn’t actually harm Mitrovic to stay at Anderlecht another year… he’s hardly running out of time age wise..
Someone mentioned on here that Anderlecht had exactly this same problem with his family when they signed from Partizan.
Ultimately I think if a club they wanted was going to come in it would have now. No doubt his agent Zahavi has reached out to the clubs his client actually wants to sign for and found theres no deal to be have. The Portuguese clubs are all spent out. The big 4 Spanish clubs aren’t interested and no one in Italy or Germany that could afford him wants him. Very little money in Italian and Spanish football outside of the champions league clubs at the moment, read that even Juventus are only buying if they sell.
Unfortunately for Mitrovic, he is like prince charming and Newcastle are like a girl at 2am in the Bigg market. All the pretty lasses have gone home, its us or nothing!
Jail for Ashley
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #62Jæspår,
Considering you think the Dutch language has invisible R’s and G’s you do well to pay attention to my lessons
Mister Tuff
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #63Lilo – ah you’re still around. Ref my previous post there was no problem with your response. It was the other poster making unfounded accusations.
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #64Lilongwe
Does Zahavi represent any defenders? It would be nice if we could replace the present incumbents!
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2015 at 10:59 AM
Comment #65Slank
Mitrovic speaks part English on the youtube video when he translates from Serbian who his favourite club is and which league he wants to play in.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM
Comment #66Ron,
No idea really. He is one of the most influential though, so undoubtedly will have some, and would likely be able to sway other agents as well if he is one of NUFC’s preferred agents to deal with.
Tuff,
No worries mate.
anthc
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:01 AM
Comment #67I don’t think this deal is gonna happen. I’m pleased the club has gave the deadline so we can look elsewhere. If it’s taking this long to decide I personally think he doesn’t want to come. Look at finish, credit to him. He wanted to come and was here sharpish no asking his dad to go and scrounge a free luxury trip. The club on this occasion have done everything they can. If he wants to go and play in poor leagues just to play European football as opposed to the best, most competitive league in the world (not to mention the coin) then let him. I think sometimes these young players get a bit praise then loose their head up their own arse. He’s still only 20 and has a lot to prove imo.
Slank
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:01 AM
Comment #68Ron Knee @ 64
‘..Does Zahavi represent any defenders?..’
I’m sure a conversation would have been started by Charnley to Zahavi along the lines of ‘whilst you are here..’
anthc
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Comment #69Finish=gini! These dam smart phone contraptions!
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Comment #70Slank
Wouldn’t put it past him!
Jib
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Comment #71Zahavi reps Javier Mascherano
I think he’s a defender
Slank
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Comment #72jazzyp @ 65
‘..Mitrovic speaks part English..’
That should help him conversing with Saylor and Beardsley who also speak part English !
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Comment #73@Slank – I wouldn’t be upset if they signed a serb or two to give Mitrovic some one to talk to!Tosic, Maksimovic or Tomic would be welcome additions.
Nastasic, Tadic, Kuzmanovic and Skuletic also good players but less likely to move
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:05 AM
Comment #74Slank
Haha good point !!
jayphoto
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:07 AM
Comment #75Hell sign Milan Mitrovic if it keeps Aleksandar happy! Hes gotta be better than willo….
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:09 AM
Comment #76Official link for Sacramento vs #NUFC Pre season match. KO: Sat 18.07.15 @ 8pm US Time. Sun 19.07.15 @ 4am BST.
http://youtu.be/8DhUSndz2fA
Shadow_Shearer
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Comment #77I’m not exactly an expert in this field, but how exactly can it be visa problems is he’s supposedly already visited newcastle & the stadium. He wouldn’t be allowed in the country if it was visa problems. I think its the dzecko deal that’s holding things back
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Comment #78Jay,
If Liverpool want Sissoko, then get Markovic as part of the deal if he wants some company. Cracking player, and still just 21. Would provide a very good option as a left sided forward.
Tsunki
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:11 AM
Comment #79Jail I hear were after a Dutch player whose surname is Grgrgr. How do you pronounce that?
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2015 at 11:11 AM
Comment #80Shadow Shearer,
Big difference between getting a tourist visa and a work, or extended stay visa.