Fulham are closing in on Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and expect to complete the deal when he returns from holiday, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper report that a fee has been agreed in principle between the two sides, with just small details left to be ironed out regarding the structure of the payment.
The Telegraph claim that the agreement is likely to be struck before the end of July, with the Cottagers set to break their transfer record for the Serbia international striker as Newcastle ask for around £20million.
Mitrovic has played 72 times for Newcastle since joining from Anderlecht in 2015, scoring 17 goals for the club in that time.
Good move for Newcastle United?
Yes.
Despite many fans calling for Mitrovic to get another chance at St. James’ Park following his impressive loan spell at Fulham last season, manager Rafa Benitez has decided the 23-year-old is surplus to requirements.
The best thing for the club is therefore to raise as much money as they can through his sale, with Mitrovic’s price tag of £20million set to help fund Benitez’s spending this summer.
The Magpies must now try and push through a deal as quickly as possible to give Benitez enough time to reinvest the money on players he wants to see come through the doors at Newcastle.
Nothing but Newcastle rating: 9/10
Likely to happen?
It looks like a deal is close with Fulham, who have been keen on a permanent deal for Mitrovic since his successful loan spell in west London in 2017/18.
Mitrovic is obviously still on holiday after the World Cup but will return in the next few weeks, after which talks can begin in earnest to thrash out the finer details of the move.
Expect this deal to be completed before the end of July, as reported by the Telegraph here.
Nothing but Newcastle rating: 8/10
