OPINION
Newcastle United have been handed the perfect chance to accelerate their talks over signing Everton attacker Nikola Vlasic after it was reported that Marco Silva has banished the Croatia international from first team training.
The Daily Mail reported last month that the Magpies have discussed the possibility of signing Vlasic, 20, on loan this summer as Rafa Benitez eyes up late additions to his squad ahead of the transfer window slamming shut.
Vlasic had a tough debut season at Goodison Park after signing from Hadjuk Split for £10million last year.
He made just 19 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees, with most of them coming off the bench, and only scored two goals which both came in the Europa League against Apollon Limassol.
And now it seems that the attacker’s long-term future on Merseyside is on the ropes with Times journalist Paul Joyce reporting on his personal Twitter account that he and three other senior players have been told to stay away from first team training by Silva.
Ashley Williams, Kevin Mirallas, Cuco Martina and Nikola Vlasic have been told to train away from Everton’s first team squad by Marco Silva.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) August 2, 2018
This certainly hands Newcastle a boost to their hopes of signing Vlasic and they must look to accelerate their discussions about potentially signing him as soon as possible.
Benitez has operated with one arm tied around his back this summer due to Mike Ashley’s ridiculous ownership of the Tyneside club, but pulling off a loan move for the Everton outcast should be achievable given the fact that he is only on a deal worth £25,000-a-week (Spotrac).
It’s easy to forget that Vlasic is only 20-years-old as well.
The Croatian ace is bound to improve in the future and he would head to Newcastle with a point to prove if Benitez can pull off an agreement.