Newcastle United’s transfer concentration will currently be related to how they can help Eddie Howe in the January window.
Saturday saw the Magpies reach the next round of the FA Cup, in a difficult clash against Bournemouth. A double from Harvey Barnes and a strike from Anthony Gordon helped Newcastle draw 3-3 with Howe’s former side.
Despite Nick Woltemade slamming the crossbar with his spot-kick, Aaron Ramsdale was the penalty save hero at St James’ Park.
Nick Pope and Ramsdale are the pair fighting for the first choice spot at Newcastle United. Meanwhile, Odysseas Vlachodimos is impressing everyone at Sevilla. The Spanish club want to keep him beyond the current season, however, they know others will also be interested.
Vlachodimos moved from Benfica to Nottingham Forest in 2023. There was surprise in Lisbon at that transfer, given he’d been the regular starter. That surprise was increased when the Greece international wasn’t used, and then it all turned to shock when Forest made a big profit and sold him to Newcastle United for around €23m.
The latter transfer came as part of some creative business between the two Premier League clubs as they battled PSR. The Magpies didn’t appear to see a role for Vlachodimos, rather than on an accounting basis.
Then just over a year later, he was loaned to Sevilla for a season.
Newcastle United set to learn how difficult Sevilla can be
The Spanish club have a history of being difficult with loans. Even if a player excels for them, they’re rarely prepared to then cough up for him.
That looks the case with Vlachodimos.
After an initial first few games on the bench, the goalkeeper became first choice in September and has retained that role since then.
Sevilla want to keep him, and Sunday’s edition of local newspaper ABC states the player feels the same.
However, in contradiction to some other reports, there’s no buying clause in the deal. The club are thrilled with the Newcastle United owned player and plan to keep him, the issue is how they do that.
Antonio Cordón to open talks
Sevilla sporting director Antonio Cordón is set to open talks with the Magpies about the player’s transfer. To be clear, the chance of them offering even close to what Forest were paid is zero.
That’s regardless of the level 31-year-old Vlachodimos has been showing. The goalkeeper himself is prepared to push and agitate to get the move he wants.
Given the summer will be two years since the Greek arrived from Forest, that’s two years of amortisation on a contract lasting until 2028.
At a transfer fee of €23m, and amortisation of €4.6m a year on a five year contract, Newcastle United would need around €14m to avoid an accounting loss.
Sevilla will almost certainly not pay that. One option is another straight loan or potentially a loan with a purchase obligation.
That could then see the Andalusia club commit to spending around €9m in summer 2027.
