Newcastle United are keen to continue their January spending by raiding RB Leipzig for star midfielder Amadou Haidara, as their next key transfer target after Burnley ace Chris Wood.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who report the Magpies want to upgrade Eddie Howe’s engine room next. The Toon have already improved at right-back in the winter with Kieran Trippier joining from Atletico Madrid. They are also close to landing a striker with Wood.
United triggered a £25m release clause in Wood’s contract at Turf Moor. Talks also remain ongoing with Stade de Reims over Hugo Ekitike, who 90min note Newcastle have bid £30m for. But their spending may include a club-record deal to bring Haidara over from Germany.
Newcastle are determined to give Howe upgrades in each department of his St James’ Park ranks this month. The Magpies are giving everything to improve in the winter market, given they sit 19th in the Premier League table after 19 games with the worst defensive record.
A deal to poach Haidara from RB Leipzig in the January transfer window will set Newcastle back twice the club-record £40m paid to Hoffenheim for Joelinton in 2019, however. The Toon expect Domenico Tedesco’s Die Roten Bullen will want no less than £80m to cash in.
Additionally, Haidara will seek a long-term contract with wages of around £160k-a-week to move to Tyneside. The salary would also make the Mali international their highest-earner.
Newcastle could save significant amounts by waiting until the summer transfer window to sign Haidara from RB Leipzig. He has a £33m release clause in his contract at the Red Bull Arena which runs to 2025. But it will only become active at the end of the current season.
Newcastle may have to fight Manchester United for transfer of RB Leipzig’s Haidara
Newcastle have the funds to satisfy RB Leipzig’s valuation and Haidara’s demands. But Howe will have to convince the midfielder of the move and he is also currently at AFCON.
Additionally, Bild reported in November that Haidara is one of Ralf Rangnick’s top targets at Manchester United. They also quoted Haidara – who RB Leipzig paid Salzburg €19m (£16m) for under Rangnick in 2019 – as stating: “I dream of playing there [Old Trafford] one day.”
But Newcastle edging Manchester United and sealing a transfer with RB Leipzig for Haidara would offer Howe a supreme talent. His former RB Salzburg boss Marco Rose, now Borussia Dortmund manager, has spoken with vivid praise of the 23-year-old dynamo.
“He’s an excellent footballer, who doesn’t worry too much,” Rose said, via Bundesliga.com. “He just goes out and shows his qualities on the pitch. He has a lot of dynamism, particularly with the ball, and he’s willing to work – he has a lot of good attributes.”
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