Newcastle United are closing in on a deal for Benfica defender Amar Dedic after talks with the Portuguese club in Edinburgh this week. The move would reunite Dedic with head coach Matthias Jaissle, who managed him at Red Bull Salzburg.
Dedic deal close
Jaissle has received assurances from sporting director Ross Wilson that he will get the backing he needs before the transfer window closes on September 1, with a midfielder expected to follow Dedic. Dedic would provide an option at right-back and was one of Jaissle's key figures in the dressing room at Salzburg, helping build the leadership group Jaissle wants at St James' Park.
Hojbjerg deal stalls
There is frustration behind the scenes after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg initially agreed to join Newcastle before a dispute over contract length stalled the deal. Hojbjerg has angered Marseille officials, who had been told the move was done for around £13m, and he has since been stripped of the captaincy at the French club.
Wilson is said to be relaxed about the deal, with Newcastle having several midfield options and not panicking as the window nears its close. A high-placed source indicated that agents and intermediaries are pushing their own agendas because Newcastle have money to spend, but the club remains focused on completing its business.
New shirt sponsor
Fans heading to the STACK this weekend will see Sela branding replaced by new front-of-shirt sponsors KNOX Hydration. Newcastle agreed a £60m three-year deal with KNOX for shirt sponsorship and a separate £18m deal for training ground naming rights. The STACK continues to generate revenue for the club, with the naming rights expected to add further commercial income.
Bruno's Liverpool snub
Bruno Guimaraes's sale to Arsenal went through while Newcastle were in La Manga, with the club disappointed by Arsenal's approach to negotiations, particularly after super-agent Kia Joorabchian was pictured at the end of the deal. Those close to Bruno say he had begun to question Newcastle's sporting project, citing the exits of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Kieran Trippier.
A comparison was made to summer 2023, when Liverpool and Chelsea competed for Moises Caicedo. After Caicedo chose Chelsea, Liverpool enquired about Bruno, but he was already in early contract talks with Newcastle and about to sign a new five-year deal. His entourage insists his commitment since 2022 was clear, but with Newcastle out of Europe and having sold key players, his ambition no longer matched the club's trajectory.
Newcastle could have blocked Bruno's £75m move to Arsenal, but Wilson said: "We'd love Bruno Guimaraes to be in our squad this summer, but I'm sure there are other clubs that have lost players that wish they were in their squads this season. It's the world we live in, we had to adapt, we had to react. Having such an important player leave is disappointing, but having a really important player who doesn't want to play here anymore - for himself, he's honest about that - it was the only decision we could make."
Relegation talk dismissed
Despite debate at Murrayfield about whether Newcastle could be relegated, I disagree. I believe there will be at least three worse teams than United in a worst-case scenario. Jaissle's 65% winning ratio suggests he will demand full commitment, and I see Newcastle finishing between 7th and 10th rather than near the bottom. The poor pre-season start came under Eddie Howe, who knew he was leaving, and some players likely knew too.
Jaissle has already shown bravery by giving young players chances, with Mason Miley, Henry Johnson and Dylan Charlton being assessed as back-up options.
