What Newcastle target said about Matthias Jaissle as 'final talks' planned over deal

Newcastle United target Amar Dedic credited Matthias Jaissle with trust in him when he first began to break through at Red Bull Salzburg.

The 23-year-old is close to joining the Magpies from Benfica, with a final round of talks scheduled to get the deal done for a fee in the region of £28million.

Fans will be on edge until the deal is done, however, with moves for Victor Munoz and Johan Manzambi having looked just as likely before they were hijacked.

Dedic and Jaissle spent a year together at Salzburg in the 2022-23 season, with the defender later joining Marseille before making the move to Benfica.

Also capable of appearing on the left, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international made 43 appearances across all competitions last season and is considered among the best full-backs in Portugal.

He is expected to fill the hole left in the squad by Kieran Trippier, who left the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Matthias Jaissle's trust in Amar Dedic was key

In 2022, 20-year-old Dedic was coming off the back of a strong loan move to Wolfsberger, where he had made 32 Austrian Bundesliga appearances.

The right-back returned in the hopes of playing for Salzburg, but arrived to the £4.2m signing of Ignace Van der Brempt in his position.

Jaissle stuck with his big-money signing at the start of the season, but it would not take him long to switch allegiances.

By the third league game of the season, Dedic was in from the start and he would not leave that position again under the German, playing every minute of the Champions League campaign.

"Of course, it's always good for a player to gain the coach's trust. From the beginning, it was a tough fight for me, which I naturally accepted," the right-back said in 2022.

"Now the results have come, and I'm satisfied with the playing time and my performances so far. I want to continue in this vein."

Dedic and Jaissle to rekindle relationship

Dedic made 38 appearances under Jaissle during their single season together and was on top form.

The defender scored and provided four assists, and averaged 5.13 duels won per game. He will hope to take yet another step up under the German at Newcastle and will face a familiar situation.

Tino Livramento was Eddie Howe's first choice right-back, just as Van der Brempt was the starting option when he returned to Salzburg.

Dedic will push the England international all the way, and it would not be a surprise to see him take the position for himself.