Newcastle United reportedly want £20 million for Aleksandar Mitrovic, on loan at Fulham.
Newcastle United’s stance over Aleksandar Mitrovic is growing increasingly baffling.
Sending the striker out on loan was perplexing enough, but that at least was manager Rafa Benitez’s choice.
It is to Mitrovic’s credit that he has proved Benitez wrong so far, netting four goals in five games for Fulham.
But a report claiming Newcastle owner Mike Ashley wants £20 million makes the least sense yet.
The Chronicle claims this is the fee Newcastle are demanding for the Serbian striker, and in the club’s recent context it makes no sense.
Newcastle’s record spend remains the £16 million they blew on Michael Owen back in 2005.
They have refused to break this fee since – despite pressure from fans for them to do so.
So it does not stand to reason that Newcastle should expect another team to break their record expenditure – for a player not even deemed good enough for their side.
Perhaps after getting £30 million for Moussa Sissoko, Mike Ashley feels he can demand whatever he wants and he will get it.
Even so, this stance on Mitrovic holds little logic.
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