Newcastle United target Dennis Praet reportedly has a release clause in his contract.
According to a report from Calcio Mercato, Sampdoria playmaker Dennis Praet has a €20million release clause in his contract that can be activated at the end of the season.
The Belgian international, 23, joined Sampdoria from Anderlecht in the summer of 2016, having starred in Belgium with 27 goals in 182 games.
A talented playmaker, Praet was long linked with a move to the Premier League, but when that failed to materialise, he moved on to Sampdoria – and it’s fair to say that he hasn’t quite his the heights expected of him.
Praet managed just one goal and one assist in 32 games for Sampdoria last term, and whilst he has notched three assists in nine league outings this term, he still hasn’t quite lived up to his billing.
That hasn’t stopped interest in his signature though. The Northern Echo recently reported that, having targeted him over the summer, Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez is now interested in signing Praet in January, with the Magpies still chasing his signature.
Now though, Calcio Mercato report that whilst Sampdoria won’t sell in January, Praet actually has a release clause in his contract that can be activated at the end of the season.
It’s believed that Praet can be signed for €20million (£17.8million) next summer, and if true, the latest reports present something of a dilemma for Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez ahead of the summer transfer window.
Whilst he may want to bring in a playmaker when the transfer window re-opens, Praet will only be available next summer, and the Newcastle boss may have to decide whether to target somebody else in January, or play the waiting game to finally land Praet at the end of the season.
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