Newcastle ‘to push the boat out’ for Man Utd linked star in £80m deal

Newcastle United are “prepared to push the boat out” for Manchester United linked Amadou Haidara in a deal that would “stretch beyond £80m”, according to reports.

The RB Leipzig star has been heavily linked with a move to Man United over the past few weeks. 

The 23-year-old previously had a spell at Red Bull Salzburg but he has been with RB Leipzig since 2019.

Is this January transfer window a buyer’s market?

The 23-year-old has already played 24 times for Mali and he has been a key player for Leipzig over the last couple of years.

Newcastle have been busy already this month. Earlier in the window, they signed England international Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid.

They also look set to sign Burnley striker Chris Wood. The Magpies activated his £25m release clause on Tuesday.

The Daily Mail are now reporting that Newcastle are “attempting to recruit” Haidara. The report states that the Magpies are “prepared to push the boat out” for the midfielder.

They add that Newcastle “expect the total cost of the deal to stretch beyond £80m”. He has a £33m release clause that becomes active in the summer, but they will have to pay significantly more than that to sign him this month.

It is also believed that the player would demand a weekly wage of around £160,000.

Elsewhere, Ex-Newcastle man Warren Barton has called for his former club to sign Aaron Ramsey and Conor Coady:

“I think they would be aware to start looking in the market again. It’s not going to be cheap, they’re sweeping the player pool in Benfica, they’re looking around.

“I would go for him [Aaron Ramsey], I think he’s got a point to prove, when I spoke to Gary Speed a long time ago when he [Ramsey] was 21, Speedo said to me ‘He’s a player, don’t worry about him’.

“He has a great attitude, he works hard in training, he wants to be a leader. I think he’s got a driving force. It didn’t work in Italy, he can come back and I think he’ll have a bit of a chip on his shoulder.”

Barton reckons Wolves and England centre-back Coady would be another valuable addition as Newcastle are desperate for a proper leader on the pitch.

“Here’s another player,” Barton added. “Conor Coady, I look at someone like him – a leader, organised in the back, versatile.”