Journalist reveals the exciting free agent offered to NUFC - only to find out he'd cost us £35m!

According to The Chronicle's Lee Ryder, Newcastle had the chance to sign German international playmaker Max Meyer this summer - only for us to find out that he was demanding an incredible £170,000 per week.

The former Schalke star has ended up joining Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, however it's emerged today that we were one of the clubs keen on signing him earlier this summer - prior to becoming aware of his huge wage demands.

He could've been an exciting signing, a great option for us to have in the No 10 role and a real coup for the club, but it's easy to see why we 'missed out', with him now earning a stunning £170,000 per week at Palace.

This meant he'd have cost the club almost £35m on a four year deal, with him earning over £8m a year on that contract and £100,000 more per week than current top earner Jonjo Shelvey.

Here's a snippet from The Chronicle's insightful piece on Meyer today:

Newcastle United were offered the chance to sign Max Meyer last month - but were unable to afford his wage packet.

The Magpies were contacted about the German international’s availability this summer by his agent after he ran his contract down with Schalke 04.

But the midfielder - once touted as one of the best young players on the planet - has ended up at Crystal Palace.

The 22-year-old would have cost Newcastle £35million over four years, working out at around £170,000 per week.

But with Newcastle’s top earner Jonjo Shelvey earning around £100,000 less than that per week a deal was quickly understood to be dismissed by Rafa Benitez as he knew the restrictions currently in place around him.

This may be another reminder that we are struggling to compete with our Premier League rivals, but these really do seem like excessive demands - even if he seemed like a bargain at the time.

It's not their money, so I'm sure Palace fans are ecstatic, but this is perhaps proof that these 'free transfers' are anything but free..