Newcastle baulked at the chance to sign free agent Tosin Adarabioyo during the summer window as the centre-back wanted a specific release clause in his contract, according to reports.
The Magpies were extensively linked to the towering defender, whose contract at Fulham was up on June 30, but he opted to join Chelsea instead.
However, Sky Sports have reported that part of the reason why the deal did not come to fruition was that Adarabioyo wanted to have a clause in his contract that would allow Real Madrid and Barcelona to engage in talks with him if it was met. The value of the clause has not been disclosed but it was enough to see Eddie Howe’s men pull away from the deal.
The former Manchester City player joined Chelsea in what was seen as a drastic U-turn during the summer, with it widely reported that Newcastle were in pole position to clinch his signature.
The 27-year-old signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge and Newcastle failed to bolster the right side of defence. They did, however, manage to seal the signing of Lloyd Kelly, who left Bournemouth as a free agent, but the Englishman’s time in the northeast so far has been mixed.
Newcastle won’t see the return of Jamaal Lascelles until the Christmas period while Sven Botman has faced a similar period out of the sideline after sustaining an ACL injury last season.
🚨𝐍𝐄𝐖: Tosin Adarabioyo was set to join #nufc in the summer, but it didn’t go through as he wanted a release clause for Barcelona or Real Madrid in his contract that Chelsea came in and gave him. [@SkySports_Keith]❗️🏴 pic.twitter.com/CgH9bd5uGn
— Newcastle Updates (@nufcupdates9) October 18, 2024
If that’s true then we seriously messed up on this one!!
I would have agreed a deal that would let Barca & RM speak with him for £35m and any other club £45m if it meant signing him.
We would have got a quality CB for free rather than all this messing round for Guehi.
That would have meant all our efforts could then have gone into a RWF.
We’d have got him on a free so if he were later signed on any of those release fees it would have been straight profit (PSR).
Sharpy17(Quote)
If this is true it’s another massive error by management.
Most of the clubs in the PL strengthen just to stand still, Ashley hasn’t been given a position on the board without it being made public as this Summer’s business is like a leaf out of his book.
Joseph(Quote)