Newcastle United are pushing for new signings ahead of the Premier League season and a couple of names have been strongly linked.
The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules were the main subject of discussions around Newcastle United in June.
The Magpies had to strike some sales in order to meet those rules and Newcastle managed to avoid selling two key players.
Amanda Staveley has admitted that Liverpool were chasing Anthony Gordon and feared losing both him and Alexander Isak.
Those two players have stayed put and Newcastle instead chose to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively.
That helped balance the books for Newcastle and the focus will now turn to bringing in new signings the coming weeks.
Alexander Prass to Newcastle United assessed
Goalkeepers Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy have both arrived whilst Miodrag Pivas and Lloyd Kelly have joined.
Lewis Hall’s loan move from Chelsea has become a permanent deal and Newcastle are now eyeing up further additions.
HITC understands that Newcastle are moving towards a deal to sign AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw.
The centre back is a key target for Newcastle and a £35million move is in the pipeline.
Newcastle have been linked with other players though and Sturm Graz star Alexander Prass is one surprising name in the mix.
Austrian outlet Krone reported in July that Newcastle were challenging the likes of Atalanta, Bologna and Eintracht Frankfurt for the signature of Prass .
Sturm Graz sporting director Andreas Schicker has now commented on Prass whilst speaking to Sky Sport Austria.
Schicker noted that Sturm Graz had already discussed whether to sell Prass at the end of the season or wait until after Euro 2024.
Schicker was coy when directly asked about a move to Newcastle though, refusing to play it down but not confirming their interest either.
There is an expectation that Prass will be lining up for Sturm Graz against Rapid Wien this weekend, unless things move rapidly.
“Alex Prass played a very, very good season, especially a very good end to the season. We considered, together with the management, whether to aim for a quick transfer or wait for the European Championship,” said Schicker.
“One of the two countries is there,” he responded when asked if Bologna or Newcastle are interested.
Schicker is seemingly hinting at interest from either Italy or England, but wouldn’t confirm which clubs are making moves for Prass.
“In larger countries, the transfer period starts a little later. If no more transfers happen this week, you can assume that [Prass] will also be there against Rapid,” he added.
Who is Alexander Prass?
Prass started out with LASK, spending the best part of four years in their youth ranks alongside featuring for partner club FC Pasching – now named FC Juniors OÖ.
Red Bull Salzburg spotted Prass and landed him at the age of just 11 and he made his way up through their ranks, even playing 59 first-team games for partner side Liefering.
Sturm Graz snapped him up in 2021, with Prass now a key player and racking up more than 120 appearances for the Austrian champions.
The 23-year-old has previously operated as a midfielder but is now known as more of a left wing back or even left back, the role he played for Austria at Euro 2024.
Prass hit nine goals and nine assists in all competitions last season and his versatility to play in midfield or all the way up the left flank may well appeal to Newcastle this summer – even if Schick isn’t confirming it just yet.
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