Newcastle Closing in on Benfica Defender Amar Dedic

Newcastle are racing the clock to land Benfica defender Amar Dedic in time for the opening day – and they believe they’re almost there.

The club have an agreement in principle with Benfica for a package that could rise to £30 million for the 23-year-old, according to TeamTalk. Only the final wrinkles of the deal remain, with negotiations now focused on tidying up those last contractual details between the clubs.

On the player’s side, everything is already lined up. Dedic has agreed personal terms on a five-year contract and is waiting for the green light to fly through his medical, which Newcastle are hoping to conduct this weekend. The plan is clear: get the paperwork done, get him tested, get him on the grass.

The urgency is not hard to explain. Tino Livramento’s fitness issues have left Newcastle light in a key area just days before the new Premier League season. The English full-back is still short of full sharpness, and that has pushed Dedic from a smart long-term signing into an immediate priority.

Newcastle host Liverpool next Sunday in a high-profile opener at St James’ Park.

Inside the club, there is a strong desire to have Dedic registered, integrated and available for selection by then. They want him in training, learning the patterns, understanding the demands – not watching from afar as the season kicks off without him.

His profile fits exactly what Matthias Jaissle wants from his back line. Dedic is primarily a right-back, but he can switch to the left and has experience as a centre-back as well. That flexibility gives Jaissle options: back four, back three, full-back or tucked-in defender, Dedic can cover multiple roles without weakening the structure.

There is another layer to this move. Jaissle knows exactly what he is buying. The pair worked closely together at RB Salzburg and Liefering in Austria, where Dedic developed under the German coach’s guidance. Those seasons built trust. Jaissle is fully behind the push to get this signing over the line and believes Dedic can step in and contribute straight away.

Executives from Newcastle and Benfica are now working through the fine print of what has been described as an intricate agreement. The mood on Tyneside is increasingly upbeat; the feeling is that the deal is edging towards completion rather than drifting away from it.

If the schedule holds and nothing late derails the process, Newcastle expect to have Amar Dedic signed, sealed and ready for that first whistle against Liverpool.