Newcastle may be out of the running for a top summer target following the latest transfer news ahead of the 2021/22 first window.
What’s the story?
According to the Sun, Crystal Palace have again been heavily linked with a move for Newcastle target Radu Dragusin from Juventus.
The 19-year-old is an experienced Romania youth international but looks increasingly unlikely to be featuring in black and white next season – regardless of whether that is with Juventus or Newcastle.
Instead, red and blue may be the colours the young centre-half – who is out of contract in the summer – could be wearing.
Although he has made his Serie A debut, the defender cannot break into the top Italian side well-stocked with formidable centre-half options such as Matthijs de Ligt, Merih Demiral and Leonardo Bonucci.
Aside from Palace, the powerful presence is said to have ‘also attracted other clubs with his displays’ for youth-level sides at both club and international level.
He has been capped from U15 all the way to U21 level, but a lack of any consistent minutes in any competition at a senior level is stifling.
Newcastle were linked in the past according to a previous report from Gazzetta dello Sport, with the Italian source namedropping the Magpies as major suitors along with the Eagles.
The Verdict
Signing Dragusin for free and general youth investment is rarely a costly error, and the recent acquisition of Matthew Bondswell demonstrates Newcastle’s willingness to cherry-pick promising talent.
However, it seems senior gametime is the key differential for Dragusin, with Newcastle needing to make hefty promises to beat Palace to his signature.
