Newcastle United’s takeover remains in the balance.
As the Premier League season concludes, there has been no news on whether or not the club will be under new ownership from the 2020/21 campaign.
There have been rumblings of a bid from a Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund, fronted by Amanda Staveley, but it has dragged on for longer than three months at this point.
The Magpies face Liverpool on the final day of the season but there is precious little riding on the game.
They are safe from relegation, while the Reds lifted the Premier League trophy after their 5-3 win over Chelsea on Wednesday.
The end of the season, then, offers a chance to look towards the summer transfer window.
It may well be something of an underwhelming end if Newcastle’s takeover is not ratified by the Premier League, but there is the possibility that they could suddenly be flush with an immense amount of cash.
Nevertheless, the Shields Gazette reports that they are lining up a move for a La Liga star.
That man is Luka Jovic, who has been something of a flop during his time at Real Madrid.
Real paid an initial €65 million (£59.2m) to sign the striker from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, but he has scored just two goals in all competitions, having made a mere four starts in La Liga.
And the report claims that Newcastle are lining up a potential loan move for the forward, with their scouts operating on the assumption that the takeover will not happen.
Real boss Zinedine Zidane rejected the prospect of a move in January but there is the option of a loan deal in the summer; the transfer market is set to be severely depressed after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
A move for Jovic, a Serbia international, is a risk.
He just hasn’t thrived during his time in Spain but a loan move, with the possibility of a return to La Liga if he succeeds, could work for everyone.
Newcastle don’t have much in the way of striking options; Joelinton, Dwight Gayle, and Andy Carroll have been roundly terrible this season, with none hitting double figures for goals.
Thus, bringing in fresh blood should be a priority for boss Steve Bruce as the window rolls around.
It won’t be easy, of course, with the uncertainty surrounding their takeover, but a loan deal is not exactly the most expensive option.
A deal for Jovic would not break the bank and would also be one that could be completed under the current ownership, as their wait in limbo continues.