Newcastle United Close to Amar Dedic Transfer Deal

Newcastle United’s chase for Amar Dedic has moved into a decisive phase, with the player understood to have shaken hands on personal terms ahead of a proposed switch to St. James’ Park.

Bosnian outlet SportSport, via reporter Midhat Sljivak, claims the Benfica right-back has already agreed to the move, leaving the two clubs to thrash out the fee that will decide whether he actually pulls on black and white.

“The great right-back has already agreed to the transfer and negotiations are ongoing with Benfica regarding the amount of the compensation,” Sljivak reported.

Right-back priority after Everton defeat

Newcastle opened talks for the 23-year-old earlier this week. The urgency around the deal sharpened after Wednesday’s 3-1 pre-season defeat to Everton, a night that underlined just how thin Eddie Howe’s options are at full-back.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh confirmed Dedic as a concrete target, stressing how pressing the need has become.

“Newcastle desperately need to sign (at least) one, and Dedic is a target,” Waugh wrote. “The 23-year-old is predominantly a right-back but can play down both sides, which is desirable, and he worked under Jaissle at Red Bull Salzburg, so the German will be confident that Dedic can fulfil his demands swiftly.”

That versatility is not a luxury for Newcastle. It is a necessity. Lewis Hall has only just returned from injury in that loss to Everton and could yet push for a move to Manchester United, while Tino Livramento is still sidelined and racing to be fit for the Premier League opener against Liverpool.

For a squad already stretched, a defender who can operate on either flank and already knows Matthias Jaissle’s methods from their time together at Red Bull Salzburg ticks a lot of boxes.

Standoff over price

The deal now rests on one number. Benfica’s valuation and Newcastle’s ceiling are not quite aligned.

According to Sljivak, the Portuguese club want €33 million (£29 million). Newcastle plan to open negotiations at €25 million (£22 million) and are said to be unwilling to go beyond €30 million (£26 million).

“The maximum offer for Dedic will be €30 million,” Sljivak reported. “Of course, they will start with a slightly lower figure of €25 million, but they are ready to go up to €30 million. ‘We don’t want to give a cent more,’ is the clear message from England to the Portuguese giant.”

So the lines are drawn: Benfica pushing for top dollar, Newcastle insisting on a hard cap. The gap is not enormous, but it is significant enough to test both clubs’ resolve.

Benfica ready to sell

Despite that difference, there is a growing sense this one is heading towards a resolution. SportSport suggests Benfica are prepared to move quickly and will not drag out the process if the offer lands in an acceptable range.

“There will be no problems in the agreement, because the Portuguese giant is ready to sell the Bosnian football player,” Sljivak reported. “Dedic should go to Newcastle very soon.”

For Newcastle, the calculation is simple but brutal: pay up for a player who fits the profile and eases a glaring weakness, or risk going into a season with a patched-up back line and key full-backs either injured or unsettled.

The clock is ticking. The need is obvious. The question now is whether that final €3 million proves a deal-breaker or just the last hurdle before Amar Dedic walks out at St. James’ Park in black and white.