‘Very complicated’: Pundit convinced Newcastle won’t sign £34m star

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Former Russia international Igor Korneev cannot see Aleksandr Golovin leaving Monaco for Premier League outfit Newcastle United, speaking to Eurostavka. 

Last week, the midfielder’s agent made public Newcastle’s interest in a player who shone at the 2018 World Cup before sealing a £27 million move to the Principality.

Golovin, he said, was the subject of an approach from the nouveau-riche, Saudi-backed Magpies during the January transfer window. 

“(The rumours are) definitely not fake. Negotiations between Monaco and Newcastle about Golovin (happened in January),” says Alexander Klyuev.

“Of course, I can’t reveal the details.”  

Will Newcastle United go back for Aleksandr Golovin?

But will Newcastle return for a talented playmaker reportedly valued in the region of £34 million? Korneev, formerly of Barcelona, Heerenveen and Espanyol, doesn’t think so.

“(Swapping clubs) for a player with a Russian passport is very complicated, given the situation there in relation to the Russians,” says Korneev, pointing to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“99 per cent of sporting directors would not take that risk.  

“I don’t think that Newcastle will buy Golovin, for the reason stated (above). His price-tag has definitely not increased, despite the fact that he looked good in the second part of the (Ligue 1) championship.”

After a tough start to life at Monaco, Golovin finally hit his stride under Niko Kovac last term as the 2017 champions flirted with the title. The former CSKA Moscow talisman provided another nine assists last term as Monaco finished third, qualifying for the Champions League.

Despite possessing more funds than King Croesus himself, Newcastle have completed just one new signing so far this summer, Matt Targett returning from Aston Villa to turn his loan deal into a permanent transfer.

The Magpies have reportedly missed out on the likes of Divock Origi and Kristjaan Asllani, while those long-running pursuits of Sven Botman and Hugo Ekitike are ongoing.