NUFC 'withdraw' left-back offer - but £500k loan deal agreed & medical scheduled - Sky Italy
According to Sky Italy's Gianluca Di Marzio, Newcastle have withdrawn their interest in Monaco left-back Antonio Barreca - with the club moving to sign Jordan Lukaku instead after agreeing a £500,00 loan fee with Lazio.
It was confirmed yesterday that we'd made a loan bid to sign Monaco's Italian U-21 full-back Barreca, but it looks like a deal for Lukaku is Rafa's preferred option; and a reported loan fee of £500,000 seems reasonable.
Given the way Monaco hijacked our loan bid for Gelson Martins just 24 hours ago, we'll only believe Lukaku is a Newcastle player once he's pictured in a black and white shirt, however it seems he's now on Tyneside and ready for his medical.
As Lee Ryder has confirmed tonight, Newcastle appear to have all the formalities ready to go ahead - with Lukaku needing to be signed by 12pm on Friday if he wants to have any chance of featuring in Saturday's FA Cup clash with Watford.
