Late opportunity for Newcastle United to raid AC Milan due to interesting twist

Newcastle United missed out on a highly thought-of defender in the January transfer window.

It has been a regular story on Tyneside, players have been offered to the club but the Magpies have not had the fees to get the deal done.

Newcastle wanted Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens. The Uzbek defender had impressed under manager Will Still but had caught the eye of many clubs across Europe.

At one point, Newcastle led the race for Khusanov. The Magpies have been in the market for a defender with Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles‘ contracts expiring. In the end, Khusanov signed for Manchester City for £33.8m.

It was a blow for Eddie Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell – Khusanov’s agent admitted that Newcastle’s FFP problems meant they were unable to sign him.

It is believed that Newcastle executives were ‘miffed’ at losing out on Khusanov to Man City.

While Newcastle are still in the market for a new centre-back, they have just been informed of a new opportunity to sign a Serie A star who they have been linked with in January.

Newcastle target Fikayo Tomori could still leave AC Milan in January

Fikayo Tomori was finding game time hard to come by under AC Milan’s previous head coach and former Newcastle target Paulo Fonseca. However, Fonseca has since left the Serie A side and was replaced by Sergio Conceicao where he has enjoyed more minutes in Milan’s starting XI.

Newcastle were linked with Tomori who was expected to cost around £31.5m for any interested party. According to ESPN, Tomori’s future at AC Milan is in doubt.

The former Chelsea man rejected a move to Juventus in the January transfer window despite a loan deal with the obligation to buy in the summer being agreed in the summer.

Tomori would prefer to stay at Milan after returning to the first-team picture under Conceicao.