Newcastle United are competing with Chelsea and Brighton for AIK winger Zadok Yohanna as the race for the highly rated teenager heated up at the start of June.
According to the Daily Mail, Brighton have already made an opening offer for the 18-year-old and might have an agreement in place with the player, while Newcastle are still discussing figures with the Swedish club without any agreement with Yohanna.
“Newcastle United are rivalling Brighton in a £20million battle for AIK’s highly-rated flying
winger Zadok Yohanna,” the Daily Mail reported.
Yohanna only joined AIK from Nigeria’s Ikon Allah academy last summer, but his rise has already drawn attention from several major European clubs. In fact, the Daily Mail reported that Chelsea, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Rennes, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund have all tracked him this season, with the Blues having already submitting their own formal offer, according to The Sun.
“During April’s clash with Kalmar FF, there were 32 scouts at the game all credited with interest in the teenager,” the Daily Mail reported.
The problem when it comes to gambling on this transfer? A tiny sample size.
Yohanna has played only seven league games, scoring twice and adding two assists, and only his performances in lower-level Swedish Cup matches earlier this year are what seem to have generated some buzz around him.
AIK confirmed on Sunday that they had already opened negotiations over a sale, with the club reportedly seeking around £22million, which would already be a Swedish top-flight record.
The left-footed winger usually plays on the right and has been praised for his speed, technical ability and one-on-one threat, which makes him a bit of an odd fit as a one-for-one replacement for the departed Anthony Gordon.
For Newcastle, however, Yohanna fits the young, high-upside profile of player the club seems to be trying to land this summer as they get rid of some of their more established veterans, including Gordon.
According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle is precisely selling the youngster the successful story of Gordon to appeal him as a middle-step club toward greater, future heights.
