Newcastle can sign midfield star for half James Maddison’s £50m price-tag
Southampton are demanding £25 million for Newcastle United target Carlos Alcarez as the Argentine eyes an immediate return to the Premier League.
Who would have thought that handing a manager a sizeable transfer warchest, letting pick his signings, and then sacking him only a few weeks later have rather negative consequences?
Southampton, like Leeds United when firing Jesse Marsch just days after the club-record acquisition of Georginio Rutter, were made to pay the price for a lack of short-term planning last season; Mislav Orsic and James Bree – two of Nathan Jones’ signings – barely kicking a ball under his successor Ruben Selles.
Carlos Alcarez, at least, thrived amid the South Coast chaos.
The £12 million addition from River Plate was so impressive that, according to talkSPORT and The Sun, he caught the eye of three clubs preparing for Champions League football; Benfica, RB Leipzig and Newcastle United.
Newcastle United must pay up for Southampton’s Carlos Alcarez
In an attempt to retain Alcarez, Southampton have reportedly doubled his price-tag. It will take bids in the region of £25 million to twist their arm, though The Saints could certainly have done without Alcaraz going public with his desire to play top-flight football again next term.
“At the moment, I’m still playing at the club. I’m not very aware of these things (the speculation). I just play and give my best,” Alcaraz tells D Sports, via TNT.
“I want to stay playing in the Premier League. The reality is that I want to continue learning in the league.”
According to The Sun, ‘further talks’ will take place over Alcaraz’s future in the next few weeks. Southampton have also ‘dismissed’ the idea of selling the stylish 20-year-old before bringing him back to St Mary’s on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.
Alcaraz, scorer of four goals in an otherwise dismal season on the banks of the Solent, is one of a number of technically-gifted attacking midfielders on Newcastle’s radar. That £25 million asking price, while hefty for a player who only has a few months of English football experience under his belt, still makes Alcaraz available for a fraction of the fee Eddie Howe would have to pay for James Maddison or Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga.
Maddison, per 90Min, is valued at exactly double by Leicester City.
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