Newcastle United now have real hope of signing RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara, with Manchester United dallying over a potential deal.
That’s according to The Mirror, who claim that United are showing no urgency in their pursuit of signing Haidara as things stand.
Ralf Rangnick wanted to sign Haidara for United, and that’s no great surprise.
Rangnick was a key man in the Red Bull project, with Haidara turning out for Red Bull Salzburg before heading to RB Leipzig in 2019.
Rangnick is clearly a big fan of Haidara, and it’s even claimed that Leipzig have verbally agreed a £33million fee with the United boss.
However, United are yet to actually formalise a bid, with their dallying now opening a window for Newcastle.
It’s stated that Newcastle are now ‘eager’ to muscle in and snatch Haidara from under Rangnick’s nose.
The Daily Mail reported just a matter of days ago that Newcastle were hoping to get Haidara signed up.
They priced up the total deal at more than £80million, with a belief that Haidara would need wages of at least £160,000-a-week.
That’s an expensive total package for Newcastle to pay, but Haidara seems to be a prime target for Eddie Howe.
Haidara, 23, is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali but may be on the move this month.
A midfielder who loves Steven Gerrard and Yaya Toure, Haidara is smart on the ball, capable of going past a man and has the athletic ability to play box-to-box.
With potential to develop in the future, Haidara can become a star – and that future may well come with Newcastle instead of Manchester United.
After signing Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, Newcastle could now secure a huge coup by bringing in Haidara too.
The fear may be that Haidara chooses to hang on and wait for Rangnick, and Newcastle won’t want to be left in limbo as they have been many times already this month.
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