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Newcastle United sporting director Paul Mitchell holds Johan Bakayok in high regard
Newcastle United will now battle to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayok in this window, with the move considered all but dead, sources have reported CaughtOffside.
Although the Magpies are prepared to accept a £10m bid for right-wing striker Miguel Almiron from MLS side Atlanta United, bringing in additional funds, Bakayoko is unlikely to make a move.
Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell has identified the youngster as a priority target as the former Monaco CEO is looking for a quality buy with value for money.
But PSV’s valuation means Eddie Howe’s side will not be able to afford Bakayok. The Eredivise club are top of the league and they don’t want to lose any of their stars halfway through the campaign.
Newcastle managed to avoid any PSR issues after it was announced on Wednesday that no Premier League club had breached the rules over the three-year period from 2021 to 2024.
Although he now has the funds at the club, Jacob Murphy’s form has also eased Newcastle’s desire for a right winger. The 29-year-old has ten goals in 14 Premier League starts this season.
Eddie Howe opened up Newcastle’s PSR problem
Ahead of the PSR announcement, Eddie Howe, who oversaw Newcastle’s 3-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night, spoke about the club’s problems with the PSR last summer. The Magpies were forced to sell Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankub Minteh to Brighton to avoid a potential points penalty.
“The last thing we want to do, or what I want to do as a club manager, is to sell academy products who have the potential to play for this team for many years,” Howe said.
“Elliot was an example – it was the last sale we wanted to make. We knew his qualities and he only broke into the team towards the end of last season. He was very good in various roles for us.
“But we were faced with literally no other options at that point with 48 hours to go, we had to make a decision we didn’t want to make. It will always be our last choice. But when you add it all up and say, ‘Well, it’s a points deduction and a PSR violation or a sale, I think you have to make a sale.'”
