Fiorentina have slapped a £37.5m asking price on Nikola Milenkovic after Newcastle United made an approach to hand Eddie Howe the reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target.
That’s according to The Sun, who report Howe is adamant the Toon must sign two centre-backs in the January window. The St James’ Park outfit have continued to leak goals since sacking Steve Bruce in October and hiring the former Bournemouth boss 20-days later.
Newcastle have shipped 15 goals in the seven Premier League fixtures Howe has overseen so far. They also registered their only clean sheet of the term in their sole win over Burnley.
Norwich’s defeat at West Ham United on Wednesday night saw the Canaries edge clear of Newcastle with the worst defence. They have now conceded 44 times over 20 games to the Magpies’ 42 in 19 so far. Howe will hope to maintain the gap when the Toon face Watford.
In the meantime, Toon chiefs are working to dip back into the market after deals for Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier. Newcastle retain their interest in Sevilla enforcer Diego Carlos, but are also plotting a transfer for Fiorentina’s Milenkovic.
West Ham have also watched the Serbian in action in Italy, where he has shone for I Viola. The 24-year-old has helped to keep three clean sheets over 17 Serie A outings this season.
Tottenham could thwart Newcastle’s Milenkovic transfer hopes
But Fiorentina will not let Milenkovic leave on the cheap, and have set Newcastle a £37.5m valuation for a transfer. The Tuscan outfit can also point to tieing the 6 ft 5 defender down to a new contract last August. His extension only runs to 2023, however.
Tottenham may also thwart Newcastle’s pursuit with aspirations of their own for a transfer for Fiorentina’s Milenkovic in January. Corriere di Puglia e Lucania claimed in December that Spurs were preparing to start negotiations having followed his season closely.
Either side can land a promising and highly-talented enforcer for their respective goals of avoiding relegation and European qualification. Milenkovic’s ex-Fiorentina teammate Pol Lirola – who joined Marseille in August – was full of praise for the Serbian while together.
“Milenkovic is already ready for a great team and has an extraordinary quality,” he said, via X-Sport.
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