OPINION
Newcastle are set to endure yet another frustrating transfer window following the news that they are reluctant to stretch to the £17million it would take to get Juventus to part ways with midfielder Stefano Sturaro.
According to SportItalia journalist Giulia Stronati on Twitter, the Magpies have tabled a £12.4million offer for the midfielder who struggled to hold down a place for himself in the Juve first team last season but Goal.com say the Old Lady want £17.7m for the 25-year-old – leaving this one hanging in the balance.
Il #Newcastle accelera per Stefano Sturaro: offerti 14 milioni più bonus alla #Juventus. #calciomercato #transfers #NUFC
— Giulia Stronati (@GiuliaStronati) June 28, 2018
So far, there’s been very little going on at St James’s Park in the way of new arrivals this summer and with club owner Mike Ashley seemingly unwilling to loosen the purse strings it’s looking like it’s going to be another window comprised of cut-price bargains and loan deals.
In the January transfer window, it was a similar scenario as the club continually undercut players values and when it looked as though a deal for Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen was set to go through, again the North East club would not stretch to the Dutch club’s valuation of the player.
Rafa Benitez will count himself lucky in the end that the arrivals who did come into the club in January injected the pace, the drive, and the fire power to steer them away from danger, but now that Kenedy has returned to Chelsea, there are question marks again over where the goals will come from next season.
Brace yourself Newcastle fans, it is going to be another tricky window.