Newcastle United In Advanced Talks To Sign €40m Midfield Star As Replacement For Injury-Plagued Magpies Ace

Newcastle United have reportedly opened positive talks with Inter Milan over a move for highly-rated midfielder Alexandar Stanković, with the Italian club demanding around €40 million for the youngster, according to Tuttosport.

The Magpies are actively exploring midfield reinforcements as they prepare for potential departures in the summer window, and Stanković is seen as a long-term solution who could fit into Eddie Howe’s evolving squad rebuild.

At the same time, Newcastle are prepared to listen to offers for one of their current central midfielders, whose future at St James’ Park now looks uncertain.

The player is entering the final 12 months of his contract, and an extension is considered unlikely, pushing the club toward a possible sale.

In addition, recurring injury problems—particularly Achilles and calf issues—have heavily affected his consistency and limited his playing time over the past seasons.

This has seen him fall behind the established midfield trio of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton in the pecking order.

Despite showing flashes of quality during his time at Newcastle, his struggles with fitness have made him expendable as the club looks to balance its squad and comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The player in question Joe Willock, having initially joined permanently from Arsenal in 2021, most of his transfer value has already been amortised, meaning any sale would represent almost pure profit on the books.

This gives Newcastle’s sporting structure greater flexibility in the transfer market as they aim to target higher-profile signings.

While the midfielder has expressed a willingness to fight for his place, interest from clubs such as Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Leeds United could accelerate his exit.

Meanwhile, uncertainty also surrounds Sandro Tonali’s future at the club. Tottenham Hotspur have already seen an opening bid rejected, while Manchester City and Arsenal are also monitoring the situation closely, adding further pressure on Newcastle’s midfield planning ahead of a crucial summer window.