Newcastle could lose popular striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after Belgian giants Anderlecht submitted a late transfer window bid for the wantaway Serbia international.
Mitrovic is unhappy at St James’ Park and is keen to leave before Wednesday’s transfer deadline for new club that will offer him the first team football he craves ahead of the World Cup in Russia after making just seven appearances this season.
The Chronicle understand that Anderlecht, who failed with a loan bid for Mitrovic earlier in the window, have returned with an improved offer for their former player, who scored 44 goals in two seasons at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.
Magpies boss Rafa Benitez is open to allowing Mitrovic to leave for £15 million having become disillusioned with 23-year-old’s disciplinary issues, but the Spaniard would have to secure a replacement before any move would be sanctioned.
Incredibly, should he still be a Newcastle player on Thursday morning, Benitez has assured Mitrovic he will be guaranteed game-time if he remains on Tyneside for the rest of the season, a scenario that looks increasingly likely after losing out to West Brom in the loan race for Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge and having several bids knocked back by Feyenoord for Danish striker Nicolai Jorgensen.
“If he stays here – he can play,” Benitez said. “At the moment he is our player.”
