Newcastle United have reportedly entered the race to sign wantaway Juventus star Dejan Kulusevski, who is also a target for Tottenham Hotspur.
According to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, Newcastle United have emerged as the latest Premier League club to register interest in winger Dejan Kulusevski and have contacted Juventus to inquire about the Swedish forward’s situation. The 21-year-old is under contract until June 2025 and is poised to leave the Turin club during the January transfer window.
Kulusevski was signed by Juventus from Atalanta in January 2020. He continued his progression on loan at Parma for the remainder of the 2020/21 season and ended with 10 goals and 9 assists. Regarded as one of Serie A’s best young attacking prospects, the 21-year-old played a key role in his debut campaign for Juventus, starring in the 2021 Coppa Italia final while only missing three league games all season.
However, ever since Massimiliano Allegri’s return to the helm of affairs in Turin, Kulusevski has been reduced to a benchwarmer role and has struggled for playing time while he is yet to score this season in 16 Serie A appearances, out of which only four have been starts.
The frustrating situation means the highly-rated forward is actively looking for a way out of Turin, with his agent pressing for a suitable move. Despite the lack of minutes, there seems to be no shortage of suitors for the Swedish international, with Arsenal and Tottenham being touted as possible destinations.
However, it seems the London clubs are not the only Premier League outfits interested in Kulusevski as the Swedish forward has emerged as a prime target for fellow top-flight side Newcastle United. After their takeover, the Magpies have become one of the major protagonists in the market and are in the running for Swede’s signature.
In the light of injuries to Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin, the Newcastle hierarchy are forced to dip into the market to add more firepower to their attacking contingent. Although Eddie Howe has plenty of options in wide areas, they lack a goalscoring winger.
Kulusevski is a wide forward who relies on his deadly change of pace and a gifted left foot to wreak havoc in the attacking third. He possesses a solid combination of technical ability, size, strength, and speed. The idea of Saint-Maximin and Kulusevski lining up on either flank could spell trouble for opposing defences.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are hopeful that director of football Fabio Paratici’s past connections with the Bianconeri would give them an upper hand in their pursuit for the in-demand winger. Kulusevski is highly regarded by the Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte, who is seemingly impressed with his physicality, versatility and relentless work rate off the ball.
Steven Bergwijn has been underwhelming since his arrival in early 2020, while Bryan Gil is still very young for the rigours of the Premier League. Kulusevski, thus, represents an ideal solution for Conte’s attacking woes, with the Swedish attacker boasting physical and technical attributes to be a success in the English top-flight.
Apart from Newcastle, Tottenham and Arsenal, Sevilla have also expressed an interest in Kulusevski and are preparing for a big transfer tussle as the race to sign Juventus attacker hots up.
