Newcastle to have no 'major issue' in Dusan Vlahovic deal: 'You're saving £50m'
Newcastle United should not be put off signing Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer despite his eye-watering wage demands.
That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Juventus centre-forward is worth upwards of £50million.
Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini has confirmed that talks over a new deal for the Serbian striker have fallen through due to his salary conditions, opening the door for the Magpies.
Newcastle are likely to be on high alert, and with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa struggling to make the desired impact, Vlahovic could be a huge addition this summer.
Newcastle United have no reason not to sign Dusan Vlahovic
Some concerns have been raised over the Magpies potentially not splashing out on the player's contract demands, but Borson has quickly squashed those voices.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: "You're definitely getting a player that, at the minimum, must be worth £50million given how we value strikers.
"So if you're saving £50m, you can afford to pay a lot more on his wage. I know people talk a lot about the wage structures, particularly when it comes to free transfers.
"But the game is sophisticated enough to understand that a player that's a free transfer is obviously paid differently to a player that you've just signed for a very big fee. And I just don't see it being any sort of major issue.
"In the grand scheme of things, if you are saving, let's say, £12.5million on amortization a year, plus you're saving the actual transfer fee.
"If the counterbalance to that is you've got to pay the player an extra £5million-a-year, let's say another £100-a-week, that's a good deal. People are going to do it every day of the week."
What does this mean for Yoane Wissa at St James' Park?
It is absolutely no secret that Eddie Howe struggled from a lack of firepower at St James' Park during the 2025-26 campaign.
Mick Brown told Football Insider last month that the Magpies are already willing to cut their losses with Wissa, just 12 months on from his arrival.
The former Brentford forward has seriously struggled to stay fit since his £55million move to St James' Park, and even when he has featured, his displays have been underwhelming.
Woltemade, on the other hand, has shown sparks of what he can do in the final third, and Howe just needs to the right players around him to provide the service.