Barcelona and Newcastle competing for transfer of top midfielder

It’s not very often we hear Barcelona and Newcastle United’s names in the same sentence.

But with the club from England’s north-east sitting third in the Premier League table, the Champions League anthem is very likely to ring out over St James Park next season to welcome some of Europe’s biggest names. Barcelona, meanwhile, will return to the competition with hopes of making it out of the group stage in Xavi’s third attempt.

We’ll have to wait for Newcastle to mathematically book their spot in the top four and then the Champions League draw early next season to see if the two sides meet each other during the group stage.

However, Newcastle and Barca are set to go head-to-head in the summer for the transfer of a midfielder.

Barcelona and Newcastle competing for transfer of Brozovic

According to Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti (via The Sun), Newcastle are preparing to pay £31m for Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is keen to bring in a new player during the summer transfer window to strengthen his side’s midfield. Brozovic, who has been one of Serie A’s most consistent holding midfielders in recent seasons, would be expected to allow Bruno Guimaraes more freedom to bomb forward and make things happen in the final third. Scott McTominay of Manchester United is also reported to be on Newcastle’s transfer wish list.

Despite their owner’s riches, it’s not going to be easy for Newcastle to sign Brozovic, with Barcelona also understood to be in the race for the 30-year-old. The Blaugrana are exploring ways to rejuvenate their midfield, as it could prove to be risky to depend on Sergio Busquets to shield their backline in all competitions for yet another season.

Barcelona failed in their attempt to sign another Serie A midfielder – Sofyan Amrabat – in January.