Newcastle United will be in the market for a new right-winger this summer; there is no doubt about it.
Jacob Murphy has done a great job this season, delivering five goals and eight assists in 25 league outings, but an upgrade on the boyhood fan is needed, along with greater depth down that side following Miguel Almiron’s January sale.
Who we sign is anyone’s guess – a number of domestic and overseas options have been linked – but there is one reported target who won’t be arriving on Tyneside anytime soon unless his reported price tag comes down significantly.
Back in the first week of January, The Mail’s Craig Hope reported that Newcastle are huge fans of Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and eager to sign the England youth international this summer.
Paul Mitchell has strong links with former club Southampton and he certainly ticks boxes for our recruitment team as a young, fearless and hugely talented youngster with room to grow under Eddie Howe’s coaching; much like Anthony Gordon has.
However, a report from The Telegraph has revealed why Newcastle and other suitors may find it tough to sign the highly-rated 19-year-old this summer.
They reveal that Southampton will demand in excess of £100m to sign Dibling, with the Saints believing he is one of the top talents in English football following an enquiry from Tottenham and scouting visits from Man City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich this season.
These crazy figures back up suggestions that Paul Mitchell will look outside the Premier League for potential signings, knowing value for money rarely exists when purchasing domestically.
We saw it last summer, where big-money bids worth £60m were rejected for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi; all while Bournemouth picked up Dean Huijsen for just £13m from Juventus.
Should we go abroad, it seems PSV’s Johan Bakayoko is high up on our radar, with Mark Douglas at the i reporting that the Belgian is one of several ‘ambitious’ targets under consideration.
Back to Dibling, there is no doubt he has huge ability and the potential to reach the top, but over £100m feels excessive to put it mildly.
Southampton are well within their rights to demand what they want, as Newcastle United should with Alexander Isak when the inevitable summer bids arrive.
Ultimately, the price tag is up to Southampton, who have that right from a sellers perspective, but it shows what a mad market we’re in, especially when Dibling is out of contract in two years time.
Put it this way; anyone thinking £150m+ for Isak is ‘crazy talk’ may reconsider if £100m gets you a player of Dibling’s inexperience.