Newcastle United and Marseille are in 'concrete talks' with the representatives of a Serbian playmaker, according to reports.
Newcastle prepare for trip to Crystal Palace
Newcastle head to Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon for a 2pm Premier League kick-off that carries quiet but genuine significance for both clubs.
Crystal Palace sit 14th with 39 points while the Magpies are just three places above them, and with the season entering its final stretch, neither side can afford further regression.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the start of the match
Palace arrive carrying the bounce of Thursday's 3-0 Conference League win over Fiorentina, though the European exertion adds a fresh layer of fatigue management for Oliver Glasner.
Newcastle beat Palace 2-0 at St James' Park in January and have the better recent head-to-head record, but Selhurst Park is a different proposition.
Eddie Howe confirmed that Bruno Guimarães will not be available after contracting mumps on his return from international duty with Brazil, an illness rather than an injury that has disrupted his preparation.
Fabian Schär is also absent following a foot infection that required a minor procedure, ruling him out for approximately a month.
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The Blues could now raid St. James'.
With Lewis Miley also doubtful, Newcastle face the trip south with their midfield significantly depleted. Howe has also indicated that Guimarães could remain a doubt even for the Bournemouth fixture that follows.
Away from the immediate squad concerns, the club's recruitment operation for the summer is already generating stories — and the latest emerges from Serbia.
Newcastle in concrete talks with Ognjen Ugresic's representatives
According to German outlet Fussballeuropa.com, Newcastle are in concrete talks with the representatives of Ognjen Ugresic, the highly-rated Partizan Belgrade midfielder who has become one of the most monitored young players in European football.
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Marseille are also engaged with his camp, and a significant number of other clubs are tracking his situation, but Newcastle's interest has now progressed to an active stage.
Ugresic is 19-years-old and has come through the Partizan academy, where he has developed into a first-team regular and a 'fan favourite'.
The CIES Football Observatory ranked him first for progressive carries per 90 minutes among Under-20 central and defensive midfielders playing outside Europe's five major leagues in January (Substack)— data that underlines why the wider European scouting community has taken such a firm interest.
He operates in central or central-attacking midfield and has delivered nine goal contributions across 36 competitive appearances this season.
His playing style has drawn comparisons with Jude Bellingham, a reference that speaks to the technical quality and forward-running characteristics that have caught the eye of scouts across the continent.
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Ugresic has also broken through at senior international level with Serbia.
The financial picture is straightforward by Premier League standards.
Partizan are seeking €15m — roughly £13m — for a player who would have cost a fraction of that price just two years ago.
His contract runs until 2030 following an extension signed last May, which gives the Belgrade club negotiating strength.
For Newcastle, the fee is very manageable relative to the sums being discussed around their more established targets such as Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, whose own futures have generated so much attention.
Whether Newcastle can establish a clear advantage over Marseille n the weeks ahead will depend on how quickly both parties can move from initial conversations to concrete proposals.
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