RB Salzburg playmaker Valon Berisha said recently that Newcastle were very interested in signing him this summer and that his dream move would be to England.
Now there’s news from Italy via Calciomercato (referencing news from La Republica) that Lazio have had an offer of €8M (£7M) accepted by RB Salzburg.
Lazio are the current favorites to sign the talented central midfielder.
With Mikel Merino now likely to join Real Sociedad – maybe even this week – Rafa needs central midfielder reinforcements, and the Kosovo, and Norway International would seem to fit the bill.
Valon Berisha – RB Salzburg. accept €8M offer from Lazio
And we could use the £10M we will get from Real Sociedad to pay the £7M for the Kosovo international.
The report is that it seems Berisha would like to join a Premier League club and that he has previously turned down a move Sampdoria, who were initially in the lead for his signature.
If Rafa really wants the 25-year-old, we would expect Newcastle to be in there trying to do the deal.
But Calciomercato report he has “cut off contact with all other clubs in the hope of a move to Rome.”
Let’s hope that’s not true because previously he was reported to be keen to come to Newcastle.
Berisha would be an excellent addition to the Newcastle’s squad – if we can get him.
Comments welcome.
23 comments so far
Ben Afri
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:01 AM
Comment #1I was wrong
getoutofworeclub
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:01 AM
Comment #2Ashley out
Ben Afri
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:07 AM
Comment #3getoutofworeclub
We say “we have to wait till the TV money comes in” because that’s what nearly all of the other clubs are doing too. It’s not just us. Nobody thinks that Ashley will change. What we are doing is hoping that at the very least, Ashley will honour his word and let Rafa spend the money that the club GENERATES! Nobody thinks he’s going to spend a penny of his own money, even as a short-term loan. As for Rafa leaving, most of us believe that he will see out his contract. Please understand these very specific points.
jimmygscot
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:10 AM
Comment #4Merino going, no big deal, profit made on the guy. A good player who would get better under Rafa, but is this another Spaniard who couldn’t hack it at newcastle, injury claims etc., there have been a few over the years. Now, who will come in for Joselu!
ronaldo aarons
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:11 AM
Comment #5That’s all fine and well if we are waiting for the tv money to come in but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk to other clubs and players now and have deals in place to go through on the 1st July. It’s not uncommon to do that. This inactivity in the window is a p take.
RobLeenio
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:17 AM
Comment #6jimmygscot, at least Joselu showed up every week, unlike certain other Spaniards which you were alluding to.
Besides, who’s to say Rafa can’t make Joselu a better player? He has certain attributes already with his work-rate, ability to hold up play, defensive contribution, all elements Rafa values.
The one area he is criticised for is goal scoring, surely something that can be worked on.
ronaldo aarons
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:18 AM
Comment #7Merino has gone down so much in my estimations. Guy couldn’t get a game for Dortmund and when he did it was at cb. To my knowledge there were no other clubs looking at signing him. You’d think he’d show a bit more loyalty and fight to make his stay with us a success. Surprised he gets back injuries as it appears he has no spine!! For the club, (whoever does the deals, charnley??) to agree to a release clause of £10-12m need absolute slapping. If it was something they insisted on then tell them to do one, they could continue to lack game time at Dortmund. Looking at reports now, it seems his team are looking to put in a low release clause again in the hope that he can get a bigger move to after his next club. Guy is a proper tool!
Tsunki
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Comment #8Perhaps his bad back was the same as Colos after all, a strike by proxy? Well he certainly looks like he had a talent but he was a good season away from being a regular pl player. So it looks like he can’t hack the man’s game and would prefer to go back to the nursery, warm weather, tapas and an outside chance of eufa cup. Well done son.
getoutofworeclub
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:23 AM
Comment #9Ben afri please understand this other teams in the prem r spending money in fact I think Sunderland have out spent us at the minute it’s the same sh1t ever season yet fans r here will rush out and spend money on a season ticket Ashley must be pi11ing himself
RobLeenio
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:23 AM
Comment #10ronaldo, how do you know we haven’t got deals in place?
There’s been no speculation in the press over the future of Ozyakup for nearly a week, for example, where previously he’d been in the press daily.
Also gone very quiet over Quincy Promes
lochinvar
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:23 AM
Comment #11BenAfri
you were right
It’s the headline that was wrong.
Should have read
” Merino’s replacement lined up by embarrassed Charnley”
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Comment #12Merino
Started well – but injury prone and weak as dishwater in the tackle – always on his backside complaining – even tackles from the ground.
good on the ball passing but not made for the rough and tumble of the premiership
Ben Afri
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Comment #13I’m not too concerned about Merino. I genuinely liked him when he first got here and it’s obvious that he has the talent. Later in the season, is saw quite a few mistakes creeping into his game with rushed, misplaced passes and occasionally being caught out of position. That’s fine and normal for a young player, but one which is still learning the game. And that’s the point, he’s learning. So if he is demanding to play even though he has much to learn from Rafa, and although Shelvey and Diame were doing so well for our team, then all the best to him on his way out. It doesn’t bother me. That kind of attitude wouldn’t be healthy in the dressing room anyway. Just as long as he is replaced by someone at least of the same level, but with a bit more fight in him and team spirit.
lochinvar
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:27 AM
Comment #14Breaking news
Steve Watson has exercised Charnley’s release cause for £1 and the former transfer negotiator will join Gateshead as kit man for the 2018/2019 season.
Well done Steve, your help is appreciated.
Pint ?
Ben Afri
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Comment #15getoutofworeclub
Okay, aside from your point…has Sunderland really outspent us as it stands??? Geez, that’s almost funny! Anyway, back to your point… I really do understand the frustration. As I said before, I’m just as jaded as most fans. I really do doubt that this window will be any different to the previous ones. On that, you and I agree. What I am saying is that, I’d rather wait and see what happens because if waiting for TV money is just an excuse or is the truth, at least I’d like to see what transpires before I go mental.
Ben Afri
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Comment #16BenAfri
LOL True!!!
Ben Afri
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Comment #17lochinvar
That was meant for you…not me. I don’t talk to myself!
ronaldo aarons
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:36 AM
Comment #18Rob
Cos I’m itk 😉
Lol. No just that we don’t keep these things under wrap and same for many clubs. When deals are in place, people know about them. Like Jorginho to Man City, Mahrez is almost off to city, torreira to Arsenal etc. Plus, add in the couple times that the chronicle and some of the reporters on twitter have mentioned we have yet to bid for a player makes it seem that we haven’t got moving in the window.
martoon
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Comment #19Careful Ben Afri – you’ll be raising the suspicions of the multiples police! 😀
DubaiMicky
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Comment #20Hindsight is such a wonderful thing. What about if the agent insisted that merino had a £x million release clause in his contract or we couldn’t have signed him?
Chranley stood his ground, said no, but Rafa wants him so bowed down to the pressure and accepted it.
What if Chranley hadn’t backed down and he was another that we couldn’t sign on a permanent? Did we have an obligation to buy for £7m? I can’t recall, but even if we did then a release clause would have been inserted.
Fans are so fickle, can you imagine the furore?
Ben Afri
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Comment #21martoon
Hahahahaha, funny thing is that it crossed my mind too! LOL
lesh
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:42 AM
Comment #22RobLeenio (from previous thread)
You’ll bear in mind that the club’s last published accounts cover 2016-2017 and they included a large provision for wages which paints a picture bleaker than it really is.
A cynic might suggest that the large reported paper loss might be used as an excuse to hide behind FFP rules when restricting spend.
Not me though, I have faith in everything Ashley’s doing for the club and it’s fans
hibbit
Jun 26, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Comment #23ronaldo aarons @18
i’m with you on that, i don’t honestly think we have any deals in places, but i do think there are other things going on, what it is i don’t know but i’m sure Rafa would find away to tell us if he was unhappy and so far not a word from him