Newcastle United Advances in Amar Dedić Transfer Talks
Newcastle United’s chase for Amar Dedić has moved into a decisive phase, with the defender understood to have agreed personal terms ahead of a proposed switch to St James’ Park.
Bosnian outlet SportSport, through journalist Midhat Sljivak, reports that the Benfica right-back has already given the green light to the move, leaving the two clubs to thrash out the fee. As Sljivak put it, “the great right-back has already agreed to the transfer and negotiations are ongoing with Benfica regarding the amount of the compensation.”
The player is on board. Now it’s about the numbers.
Fee gap emerges between Newcastle and Benfica
There is still daylight between the clubs’ valuations. According to Sljivak, Benfica are holding out for around €33 million (£29 million). Newcastle, by contrast, plan to open negotiations at €25 million (£22 million) and are prepared to climb only as high as €30 million (£26 million).
“The maximum offer for Dedić 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 framework is clear: Benfica want top dollar, Newcastle are setting a hard ceiling. Somewhere in that narrow corridor, a deal has to be made.
A target confirmed – and a need laid bare
Newcastle’s interest in Dedić isn’t speculation. The Athletic’s Chris Waugh confirmed the 23-year-old as a concrete target earlier this week, shortly after the 3-1 preseason defeat to Everton, a game that underlined the thinness of Eddie Howe’s options at full-back.
“Newcastle desperately need to sign (at least) one, and Dedić is a target,” Waugh reported. He highlighted that the Bosnia and Herzegovina international is “predominantly a right-back but can play down both sides, which is desirable,” and pointed to his previous work under coach Matthias Jaissle at Red Bull Salzburg as a key factor in Newcastle’s confidence that Dedić can quickly adapt to the demands at St James’ Park.
That versatility matters. Right now, it’s not a luxury for Newcastle; it’s a necessity.
Full-back crisis sharpens the focus
Newcastle’s defensive situation is fragile. Lewis Hall made his return from injury in the loss to Everton, but his future is not entirely settled, with the suggestion he could yet push for a move to Manchester United. On the opposite flank, Tino Livramento remains sidelined and is battling to be fit in time for the Premier League opener against Liverpool.
Those concerns leave Howe light on senior, trusted full-back options. Dedić’s ability to operate on both sides of the defence turns him from an attractive signing into a strategic one.
The pressure has been building all week. The Everton defeat only turned the volume up.
Confidence a deal will get done
Despite the current gap in valuation, there is optimism around the talks. SportSport reports that Benfica are ready to sanction Dedić’s departure without dragging the saga deep into the window.
“There will be no problems in the agreement, because the Portuguese giant is ready to sell the Bosnian football player,” Sljivak reported. “Dedić should go to Newcastle very soon.”
Personal terms agreed. A selling club willing to deal. A buying club that has drawn a clear financial line. The final act now rests on whether Benfica step down from €33 million or Newcastle edge that little bit closer to the asking price.
For a club staring at a Premier League opener against Liverpool with a patched-up back line, how long can Newcastle afford to wait?
