Newcastle United’s midfield rebuild could see Matthias Jaissle reunited with a player he knows better than anyone in Tyneside.
The Magpies have been linked with several midfield targets, and needing more players at the position, there’s a chance new manager Jaissle has identified a familiar name as a priority to land before the window closes in September.
According to Sportske Novosti’s Jure Buric, Newcastle is actively working on a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Luka Sucic, who previously played
under Jaissle at Red Bull Salzburg.
“It is Luka Sucic that this coach wants from his bosses in order to be as competitive as possible for high positions in the strong Premier League,” Buric wrote. “The German knows the playing values and capabilities of the Croatian national team midfielder very well and it is not surprising that he ‘pointed the finger’ at our Luka, and that transfer is already being worked on to a large extent.”
Buric’s report suggests Newcastle’s interest stems directly from Jaissle’s previous relationship with the 23-year-old after the pair enjoyed success together in Austria, where they won two league titles and the Austrian Cup.
Any deal, however, appears likely to face significant obstacles. Buric reports that Real Sociedad has no desire to part with the Croatia international after making him one of the club’s long-term cornerstones, although his market value sits at an affordable €10 million.
“Real Sociedad recently stated that next season Luka Sucic will be their project on which they want to base their game,” Buric wrote. “They see him as the ‘wolf leader’ of the team from San Sebastian; they want to make him a jewel on which they will only later make their fortune.”
According to the report, Real Sociedad is under no financial pressure to sell after signing Sucic from Red Bull Salzburg in 2024 for €10 million, aligning with his current market value.
The midfielder remains under a long-term contract, however, leaving Newcastle facing a difficult negotiation if it really decides to turn Jaissle’s wish into a formal transfer pursuit. Meanwhile, Newcastle has also shown interest in Inter midfielder and Luka’s cousin Petar.
While Luka Sucic already knows Jaissle and his system, is he the midfielder you’d like Newcastle to prioritize, or should the club look elsewhere to replace its departed stars? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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