Newcastle United are readying a bid worth up to £34m for Inter Milan midfielder Petar Sucic as they prepare for the likely departure of captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal.
Corriere dello Sport reports that Newcastle have joined Leeds in the race for the 22-year-old and intend to test Inter's resolve with an offer in the range of €35m to €40m (£30m-£34m). The Italians are adamant that Sucic is not for sale, but their stance may soften if a €45m (£38.4m) valuation is met.
Who is Petar Sucic?
Sucic found the net against Arsenal in last season's Champions League and has become a key figure for both club and country. He featured 54 times for Inter in all competitions last season and made three starts for Croatia at this summer's World Cup.
Arsenal and Newcastle close in on agreement
Standard Sport says progress has been made in the search for an agreement between the two clubs, and there is growing belief on Arsenal's side that a deal will be completed. Newcastle sources have consistently denied that any official contact has taken place, with the Gunners said to have worked through intermediaries.
The Magpies initially asked for a fee in the region of £92m, but a transfer worth £75m to £80m is now understood to be close. Newcastle's pursuit of Sucic is widely seen as a contingency plan for life without their captain.
