Newcastle United Moves Closer to Amar Dedic Transfer Deal

Newcastle United’s chase for Amar Dedic has moved into a decisive phase, with the Benfica defender understood to have agreed personal terms ahead of a proposed move to St James’ Park.

Bosnian outlet SportSport, through journalist Midhat Sljivak, reports that the 23-year-old right-back has given the green light to the transfer, leaving Newcastle and Benfica to thrash out the fee.

“The great right-back has already agreed to the transfer and negotiations are ongoing with Benfica regarding the amount of the compensation,” Sljivak reported.

Fee standoff: €33m vs €30m ceiling

The deal now rests on numbers. Benfica are said to be holding out for around €33 million (£29 million). Newcastle, according to the same report, plan to open negotiations at €25 million (£22 million) and are prepared to climb only as high as €30 million (£26 million).

Sljivak was clear about the stance from Tyneside: “The maximum offer for Dedic will be €30 million. Of course, they will start with a slightly lower figure of €25 million, but they are ready to go up to €30 million. ‘We don't want to give a cent more,’ is the clear message from England to the Portuguese giant.”

The gap is there. But it is not huge. And crucially, SportSport suggests Benfica are ready to sell and do so quickly, which points towards a compromise being found.

“There will be no problems in the agreement, because the Portuguese giant is ready to sell the Bosnian football player,” Sljivak added. “Dedic should go to Newcastle very soon.”

A target confirmed – and a need laid bare

Newcastle’s interest is no longer a whisper. The Athletic’s Chris Waugh confirmed Dedic as a concrete target earlier this week, shortly after the 3-1 preseason defeat to Everton – a night that underlined just how thin Eddie Howe’s options are at full-back.

“Newcastle desperately need to sign (at least) one, and Dedic is a target,” Waugh reported. “The 23-year-old is predominantly a right-back but can play down both sides, which is desirable, and he worked under Jaissle at Red Bull Salzburg, so the German will be confident that Dedic can fulfil his demands swiftly.”

That versatility matters. Dedic’s ability to operate on either flank offers immediate cover in a squad stretched in those areas.

Lewis Hall has only just returned from injury in the loss to Everton and is already being linked with a possible move to Manchester United. On the opposite side, Tino Livramento remains sidelined and is racing to be fit for the Premier League opener against Liverpool. For a club with ambitions of pushing at the top end of the table again, that is a fragile foundation.

Price of urgency

So the equation is stark: Benfica want €33m. Newcastle insist they will not cross €30m. The player is on board. The selling club is open to a deal. The buying club is desperate for reinforcement.

In a market where full-backs capable of playing both sides are at a premium, Newcastle must decide whether that extra €3m is a line they truly refuse to cross – or the final nudge that secures a defender they clearly believe can walk straight into the side and meet demanding tactical instructions from day one.

If Benfica blink first, Dedic will be on Tyneside before long. If they don’t, Newcastle’s refusal to “give a cent more” will be tested against the reality of their own need.