Sevilla rejected a bid from Premier League strugglers Newcastle United for Diego Carlos this week with Marca reporting that the La Liga giants deeming a £21 million offer to be ‘ridiculous’.
As Newcastle supporters have found out the hard way this month, just because you’re as rich as Croesus, that does not mean you can just throw money around and snap up every player that catches your eye.
The Tyneside giants made a second bid for Carlos this week, one in the region of £21 million.
They are also willing to double the defender’s wages, offering him around £80,000-a-week.
Unfortunately for Eddie Howe, who wants a commanding centre-half after sealing deals for Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, every man and his dog knows that Newcastle have more money than God these days.
Sevilla value Carlos closer to £45 million.
And they are fully aware that, with Saudi Arabian billionaires bankrolling Newcastle’s January spending, £45 million is a fee that the Premier League relegation-battlers can afford to pay.
Sevilla, then, were never going to let Carlos move to St James’ Park for as little as £21 million. An offer they deem to be ‘ridiculous’.
Will Newcastle pay a club-record fee for Sevilla’s Diego Carlos?
Marca do point out that Sevilla’s Champions League group-stage exit has had a negative impact on the club’s finances.
But, with another Europa League title in their sights and with Julen Lopetegui’s side closing in on table-topping Real Madrid back home, the intention is to retain Carlos’s services until the summer.
Newcastle are also in talks to sign Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile and Lille’s Sven Botman.
Nico Schlotterbeck, however, turned down the chance to become the club’s record signing last week.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
