Newcastle about to break transfer record to land player they missed out on last year

Newcastle United's transfer business this summer has been much less impressive than we'd all hoped and expected.

There has been no marquee signing, and in fairness, there haven't really been any reports around something that would be considered a marquee signing. Maybe in terms of the calibre of player like Jonathan David or Federico Chiesa, but not in terms of a transfer fee that's going to make everyone stand up and take notice like Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali did.

Thankfully, a report from Spanish outlet Defensa Central has changed all that with a crazy claim that involves Newcastle having submitted a bid that would see them break their record and for a player who the club missed out on last season.

That's right, it's time for some sodium chloride as we are absolutely treating this one with all the salt.

Newcastle have submitted an €80m bid for Arda Guler

This report comes less than 24 hours after Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie claimed that he's been told by people at the club that Newcastle don't have a lot of money to spend are only likely to bring in a centre-back and a right winger for the first-team.

Well, Defensa Central reckon the Magpies are willing to go big on the winger and are reporting that Newcastle United have submitted a €80 million (£67 million) bid to Real Madrid for Turkish wonderkid Arda Guler.

Newcastle wanted Arda Guler last summer before he joined Real Madrid. The 19-year-old suffered a few injuries which limited his minutes, but in the 12 outings he made, he found the net six times before going on to impress for Turkey at Euro 2024.

Madrid see a big future for Arda Guler

The report claims that the bid was rejected off hand by Madrid with Carlo Ancelotti set to give Arda Guler a bigger role in the side next season.

We would absolutely love to believe that this is who we are going for and that we will continue to pursue a deal, but everything points towards this being a non-starter.

Can you imagine this Newcastle United paying £70 million for a teenager? We're haggling over a 22-year-old German international with a relatively low asking price. We just can't see it happening.