Dusan Vlahovic's expected transfer destination detailed as Newcastle eye up summer swoop

Newcastle United may be about to make a mistake if they secure the signing of outgoing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Serbian may not be a good "cultural fit" for the Magpies.

This comes after the news that the 26-year-old is considering a move to Tyneside on a free transfer this summer, and has already held talks with the club.

However, Wyness believes that it would be a risky deal for Eddie Howe and Co., amid questions as to whether he could handle the level of the Premier League.

Juventus recently confirmed that the Serbian will leave upon the expiry of his contract this summer, after a Serie A campaign that saw him notch seven goals in 19 games.

Vlahovic is an ambitious attacking target for Newcastle and is expected to demand big wages, and Wyness is not convinced that it would prove to be money well spent.

Dusan Vlahovic has failed to deliver on 'promise'

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Vlahovic is yet to live up to the "promise" that he once showed as a young player.

The frontman was tipped for superstardom after netting 38 league goals for Fiorentina across two campaigns from 2020 to 2022, but Wyness is in no doubt that he hasn't kicked on since then.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he warned Newcastle against a move for the star, amid concerns regarding how he would adapt to life in the North East.

"Whenever I look at him, I think of an old phrase from one of my old friends who said, he promised the world but delivered an atlas," Wyness said.

"He was one of the up-and-comers who had so much talent but hasn't really gone on and trained on, as they say in horse racing.

"I really think he's a bit of a risk for Newcastle. I don't think he's the right fit, culturally, for them. I don't think he'd do well in the North East.

"They've got the ambition, the Saudi dream, and they want some higher-profile players, which he would certainly be, but I don't think he's shown that he could really handle it.

"I would caution against that one for Newcastle, and I would expect him to stay in Europe if possible."

Newcastle eye £50m saving in Vlahovic swoop

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson recently told Football Insider that Newcastle will have no "major issue" in meeting Vlahovic's wage demands.

The football finance expert emphasised that the Magpies would effectively be "saving £50million" by not having to pay a transfer fee, allowing them to commit to a bigger paypacket.

Borson suggested that the North East outfit may have to add an additional £100,000-a-week onto Vlahovic's wages in order to get a deal done.

However, he was clear that they are perfectly capable of facilitating that, as they search for a new man to lead the line at the top of the pitch.