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Newcastle United will attempt to sign Benfica midfielder Andreas Samaris again in the summer after they failed with a move in the January transfer window, per Record via Sport Witness.
Samaris’ contract expires at the end of the season and Rafael Benitez’s side could well get themselves a bargain in the summer transfer window.
What’s the word?
Samaris was a target of the Magpies in January but a proposed deal, that would have seen him sign an initial short-term contract before committing to longer terms in the summer, fell through.
The report claims that the 29-year-old was unsure if he would actually have a club beyond the end of the season so decided to reject the proposal.
Newcastle signed Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United and Antonio Barreca on loan from AS Monaco last month.
And Samaris – who has played just six games in the Portuguese top-flight all season – can now begin negotiations with foreign clubs, with his deal soon due to end.
Newcastle, then, have the opportunity to finally get the signing over the line, with Record claiming that he will almost certainly be allowed to leave Benfica.
Patience pays off
Benitez and owner Mike Ashley may have played something of a blinder here.
Fresh from bolstering their squad at the turn of the year, the opportunity arises to do a deal for a long-term target that will ultimately cost them nothing at all.
Of course, it cannot be known if this was the plan all along – hence the convoluted offer presented to Samaris – but bringing him in when the summer window opens makes all the sense in the world.
Newcastle may well have to secure their Premier League survival first – they are currently 16th, just one point above the relegation zone.
But if they do just that, it would be a surprise if Samaris did not end up wearing black and white from the 2019-20 season.
