Newcastle bid £32m to sign a striker but the player says he didn’t even know about it
The transfer window is called silly season for a reason.
Newcastle United have been linked with moves for what feels like thousands of players already this summer and even more since PIF’s takeover in October 2021.
Such has been the need to strengthen from the low base on which Steve Bruce and Mike Ashley left the club, lots of players have been tracked as Newcastle start to show more ambition.
One of those is Red Bull Salzburg forward Noah Okafor.
The Swiss international, a teammate of Fabian Schar at that level, was linked with a move to St James’ Park earlier this year.
Now, the 23-year-old has opened up on the interest.
Noah Okafor says he didn’t know Newcastle had bid for him
Speaking to Sky Sports Austria, the player claimed Newcastle had offered Salzburg €38m – roughly £32.3m – for him last summer.
He also mentions West Ham and Borussia Dortmund but only references the bid from St James’ Park.
“I had a lot of offers, four or five for sure. Newcastle was there, West Ham was there, Dortmund a bit too”, he said.
“Suddenly it started, I had so many clubs. I think Newcastle bid 38 million. I didn’t even know. Salzburg always said: We want you to stay.”
That worked out well for Newcastle
While we won’t know how good Okafor could have been, Newcastle would eventually go on to sign Alexander Isak.
The Swede enjoyed a brilliant campaign even despite injuries, bagging 10 goals in his first Premier League season. Hailed by pundits for his maiden voyage in England, the future is very bright for him.
Okafor, meanwhile, bagged only seven times in the Austrian league.
Isak was such a success it’s hard to imagine any Newcastle supporter wanting the club to have signed anyone else.
