Amid suggestions from German outlet Bild that RB Leipzig are battling Newcastle United for the loan services of Inter Milan outcast Valentino Lazaro, the Chronicle’s Mark Douglas has provided an update on what he makes of the situation. Replying to a fan on Twitter, the journalist claimed that, while he fears the Bundesliga leaders would win a straight shootout between the two, this could be down to demands.
in a straight shoot I fear RB Leipzig will have it but suspect it'll now depend on demands. I've heard #nufc have already said no to one deal on basis of agent asking for too much.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) January 21, 2020
Gianluca di Marzio posted an image of what is believed to be the player’s party meeting with the German outfit just days after he was spotted at St. James’ Park in conversation with Steve Nickson prior to the weekend over Chelsea, so it does appear as if the Toon have some competition.
Interestingly, as you can see in the tweet, Douglas also added that he’d heard the club have turned down a potential deal already this month on the basis that agents have demanded too much.
Verdict
Given the fact that a number of footballing figures – Bruce himself – have conceded that the January transfer window is a difficult period, it’s barely a surprise to assume that the club have snubbed a move due to an agent. There’s obviously only one month to do business in and an article in the Guardian little over a year ago provided some decent insight into that world, perhaps explaining why Newcastle might have rejected it.
Joel Macadar wrote of how some of the system was ‘abused’ and even a superclub such as Manchester United have expressed the same concerns when it comes to dealing with super-agents such as Mino Raiola. With that in mind – though it’s frustrating in terms of it being a quiet window thus far – it does make sense.
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