According to new reports, Newcastle had a deal in place to sign Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu last month – only for a change of ownership at St Mary’s to scupper the move.
This comes from Graeme Bailey at 90min, who claims that sources at St Mary’s have revealed that the centre-back looked all set to seal a £40m move to St James’ Park at one stage.
He reports that we identified the highly-rated Ghanaian as a key target towards the end of 2021 and believed we’d agreed a deal to bring him to Tyneside in the first week of January.
However, Serbian billionaire Dragan Solak – the businessman behind TV operator United Group – completed a takeover on the 5th January and immediately cancelled the proposed transfer, insisting Salisu was a part of Southampton’s short and long-term future.
90min report that he remains a target heading into the summer, but any move will depend on Premier League survival and, if that happens, Southampton’s stance now new owners are in place.
Who knows how accurate this is, however it is frustrating to read given the 22-year-old could’ve been a brilliant signing and just the sort of player our defence lacks.
He’s really impressed me this season, being quick, aggressive, confident on the ball and a player that makes so many interceptions, too.
One to watch this summer if we stay up?
Utter nonsense!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So they agreed a £40m deal for a player that wasn’t for sale ?
What a load !
???
T.(Quote)
But it sounds like he was at that price under their previous owners, only new owners arrived at the start of January and blocked it?
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
@olly hawkins
The only fly in that story is that there was “NO” contact until after sport Republic had already bought Southampton. They paused all transfers while in talks, these talks started back in September 2021 ? So PIF agreed to buy a player before they appointment Eddie Howe on 8th Nov ? It all starts to unravel when you have some details of both club takeovers and appointments.
T.(Quote)