Germany legend Lothar Matthaus warns Borussia Dortmund star Youssoufa Moukoko that a transfer to Newcastle United would ‘be a mistake’. The striker is a target of the Magpies.
Moukoko has begun to attract a wealth of interest in his services as the 18-year-old is out of contract this June. BVB remain in talks with the wonderkid’s representatives over a possible new deal. But the discussions are yet to quell the chances that he quits the Bundesliga side.
Matthaus, however, questions why Moukoko would leave the Westfalenstadion as he has only just begun to establish himself. Of the two-cap German star’s 59 first-team games for Borussia Dortmund, he has registered 22 and started 12 of his 16 opening calls this season.
Through his games across all competitions this term, Moukoko has also scored six of his 11 senior goals. He has further penned six of his eight assists and made his international bow in November. Hansi Flick debuted the forward ahead of him playing during the World Cup.
Now, Sport1 reports Newcastle are in touch with Moukoko’s agents over his transfer from Borussia Dortmund. The Toon have also offered him €9m-a-year (£153k-a/w) and a €30m (£26.5m) signing-on bonus. BVB’s offer was €3m-a/y (£51k-a/w) and a €10m (£9m) bonus.
Moukoko is ready to reject a transfer to Newcastle to stay at Borussia Dortmund
However, the Evening Standard reports Moukoko is ready to snub a transfer to Newcastle or Chelsea and stay at Borussia Dortmund. It also cites the Magpies as tabling a contract of around £150k-a/w to move for free. But he is ready to find a compromise to stay with BVB.
Borussia Dortmund offers Moukoko the best place to develop – more so than a transfer to Newcastle or Chelsea – for Matthaus. He also suggests the striker should look to join a side in Saudi Arabia like Cristiano Ronaldo has now done if his only interest is the cash on offer.
Matthaus wrote in a column for Sky Germany: “If Moukoko is all about the money, I might recommend him to join Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. But if he wants to further expand his still young and very promising career and wants to become a great footballer, then there is no better place for him to start than with Borussia Dortmund.
Al Nassr have now made Ronaldo the highest-paid football player of all-time
“There’s nothing he can’t get there. Fantastic fans, a healthy club, bosses and coaches who trust him and certainly a decent salary. What does he want after a few good months in the Bundesliga at Chelsea, Newcastle or anywhere else abroad at the age of 18?
“The competition is tough there, the clubs, fans and everyone else won’t have nearly as much patience or attention for him. If he doesn’t hit three games there, he’s on the bench. The competition is huge and the country and people are strange at first. I think it would be a mistake if he left BVB for the money now.”
Al Nassr have signed Ronaldo to the most lucrative contract ever given to a footballer after he left Manchester United. The Guardian reports it is worth €200m-a-season (£3.4m-a/w) once commercial agreements are included. His deal in Saudi Arabia runs until June 2025.
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