Newcastle United want Josip Juranovic with Celtic seemingly preparing for the Croatia defender to leave the club in January.
That’s according to The Sunday Post (11/12, back page), as they claim that four Premier League clubs are interested.
Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham United are all keen on Juranovic and have been linked for some time now.
Newcastle are now added as another club interested in signing Juranovic.
Celtic have already signalled that Juranovic is on his way out having secured the signing of right back Alistair Johnston from CF Montreal.
Johnston is viewed as a replacement for Juranovic and the door is now open for Newcastle – or one of their Premier League rivals – to strike a deal.
Juranovic a surprise target for Newcastle
Juranovic is enjoying a stunning World Cup campaign with Croatia and he is now a semi-finalist ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Argentina.
That will likely help Celtic bring in big cash for the 27-year-old and no doubt increase interest from other clubs.
Yet it does feel a little surprising to see Newcastle joining this race.
Sure, Newcastle would love another right back to offer cover and competition for Kieran Trippier.
Emil Krafth and Javi Manquillo aren’t really long-term options for Newcastle so a signing is certainly expected there.
Yet recent rumours have linked Newcastle with more up-and-coming right backs rather than a player like Juranovic.
Leeds United’s Cody Drameh and West Ham United’s Harrison Ashby are two such targets – two young players who can learn from Trippier for the future.
Juranovic seems more like a player who can immediately offer quality competition rather than being the long-term Trippier successor.
Maybe Newcastle have had a change of heart in this regard, with Juranovic impressing so much in Qatar that they just can’t ignore the Celtic star.
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