OPINION
Newcastle United should abandon their hunt for GZ Evergrande midfielder Nemanja Gudelj as it could be an expensive gamble.
According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, the Magpies alongside Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Real Betis and Sporting Lisbon are keeping tabs on the 27-year-old midfield enforcer with his contract with GZ Evergrande set to expire in December,
The newspaper states that Gudelj currently earns €5million a season, which is £4.4million a season, but that he is open to a pay cut if it helps him secure a move to Sporting Lisbon.
The 27-year-old spent his 2018/19 campaign on loan with the Portuguese giants and impressed across the 43 outings he made for them.
Gudelj has proven himself to be a no-nonsense midfield enforcer who can add an extra layer of steel to his sides defence.
The midfielder averaged two tackles, 1.3 clearances, and 1 interception per game in his latest season (Source: WhoScored), and that isn’t two shabby for a player who sits just in front of the defence.
Also Gudelj can be an asset in his opponent’s box as just like WhoScored states he is a known threat from indirect set-pieces as well as being a player who loves to unleash a shot from distance.
Despite this quality attributes, the Magpies should abandon their hunt for him as he could be an expensive gamble.
Given that Gudelj currently earns £4.4million a season, which is roughly £77,000-a-week and would likely only be open to taking a slight pay cut on his wages as who would be willing to take a massive hit, so he is going to be expensive.
The midfield enforcer has never played in England before and if the Magpies are going to have to shell out a wage anywhere near that amount to get him, then it’s a gamble as there’s no guarantee he’ll succeed.
Gudelj may have done well in Holland’s Eredivisie, Portugal’s Liga NOS and China’s Super League but the Premier League is well-regarded as being a whole different ball game.
If the Magpies are going to hand out monster wages, it should be to someone who is closer to being guaranteed a sure thing with a proven track record.
Also the midfield enforcer has so many suitors so he is likely going to be able to hold out for the wage he feels he deserves.
So when you consider that and the fact he isn’t a guarantee Premier League success story, Newcastle should steer clear.
