Newcastle United's hierarchy have been hard at work ensuring Eddie Howe's first-team is well and truly bolstered come the start of the new season. The Magpies are close to confirmed a mega-money deal for Sandro Tonali, while talks remain ongoing for a number of other targets.
But Newcastle's big business will no doubt be impacted by other sides - and German club RB Leipzig currently hold the keys when it comes to the club's interest in Dominik Szoboszlai. The midfielder may leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer with both Howe's side and Liverpool keen to strike a deal.
Leipzig have already started preparing for the loss of Szoboszlai by signing Nicolas Seiwald and Christoph Baumgartner for a combined £45m. They have also persuaded attacking outlet Dani Olmo to sign a new deal with the club and had already completed a deal for Newcastle-linked Benjamin Sesko last summer.
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There will also be departures from the Red Bull Arena, however. Christopher Nkunku will officially join Chelsea next month for a reported £55m. There is also speculation surrounding Croatian defender Josep Gvardiol and a potential move to Manchester City.
Gvardiol's sale would raise vital funds for Leipzig and suddenly reduce the need to offload Szoboszlai. The German outfit were previously resigned to losing the Newcastle target but may now put up more of a fight should Gvardiol depart.
Szoboszlai has a release clause of €70m (£61m) that expires at the end of June. No clubs are yet to trigger the clause and could wait until July to try and low-ball Leizpig instead.
The player himself has had multiple chances to commit his future to the club but has so far refused at every opportunity. While Szoboszlai has admitted he is settled at Leipzig, he has always teased the desire to experience a new challenge.
“If there is interest, I will consider it, not because I don’t have a good turn in Leipzig, but because I have always been interested in challenges," he said last month. “On one side of the scale is a good Leipzig, with a coach who trusts me and teammates who accept me and also believe in me.
"No footballer can wish for more than that. This is quite an extra situation. At the same time, on the other side, there is the question, if I can now take a step towards Europe’s top five or six clubs, should I say no to the challenge? I’ve never been that type!
“I am in a very good position, as I can play in a fantastic club. However, I don’t want fifteen years from now to look back on my career as if I didn’t get the most out of it.”
