Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Norwich City have had offers rebuffed by FC Rostov for Norway international Mathias Normann, journalist Fabrizio Romano has said on his official Facebook page.
Conceding seven goals between them in opening-day defeats to West Ham United and Liverpool respectively, you don’t need a UEFA A-licence to figure out what Steve Bruce and Daniel Farke are missing with just two weeks left of the transfer window.
Newcastle have been crying out for a disciplined, tough-tackling defensive midfielder for the best part of two years.
The Magpies have missed out on the likes of Soualiho Meite and Hamza Choudhury in recent transfer windows, while failing with a club-record bid for the now-Leicester City enforcer Boubakary Soumare.
Norwich, meanwhile, may have brought in Billy Gilmour and Pierre Lees-Melou but they are more dictators than destroyers, progressive playmakers capable of breaking the lines with their piercing through balls rather than shielding a vulnerable back line with a sheet of steel.
Normann deal would be a conquest for Newcastle or Norwich
Whether 25-year-old Normann is the man to fill that void is anyone’s guess.
But he certainly has the skillset – not to mention the work rate – to be the ball-winning number six Newcastle and Norwich so desperately need.
According to one-man rumour mill Fabrizio Romano, however, both clubs have been rebuffed in their attempts to lure Normann from Rostov.
The Russian Premier League outfit won’t be bullied into selling one of their star players having refused to budge when Fulham came calling for the £20 million-rated Scandinavian 11 months ago.
While Normann looks a no-go, Newcastle may be in luck with a couple of alternative midfield targets.
Thomas Tuchel is ready to let Ethan Ampadu leave Chelsea on another season-long loan deal before the month is out, while England U21 international Choudhury would welcome the prospect of a move away from Leicester City.
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