Newcastle United have been dealt a major blow to their hopes of signing Tosin Adarabioyo. The 26-year-old defender has been heavily linked with an exit from Fulham for a while now, with his contract at Craven Cottage set to expire next month.
Despite missing a large chunk of the campaign due to a groin injury, Adarabioyo still managed to feature 20 times in the Premier League this season. The former England youth international played a key role in Marco Silva’s side, helping Fulham keep six clean sheets.
Not only did Adarabioyo steer the Cottagers clear of a relegation scrap, but he also courted the interest of some top clubs – one of which being Newcastle. ChronicleLive understands that the Magpies are going all-out to sign the former Manchester City youngster.
READ MORE: Newcastle United player ratings vs Tottenham: Razor sharp youngster impresses and Bruno keeps going
READ MORE: Dan Burn gesture explains Eddie Howe’s disputed Newcastle United decision as future glimpse given
It’s believed that Eddie Howe’s looking to bolster his defence this summer following numerous injuries to key players in his backline. While Newcastle may have shortlisted Adarabioyo, they reportedly face tough competition for his signature.
According to the BBC, Manchester United have joined the Magpies in the race to sign the centre-back, with both clubs exploring ways to navigate Financial Fair Play restrictions and the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
The report has also attributed Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and AC Milan to interest in Manchester-born Adarabioyo. For now, it remains to be seen whether or not Newcastle will be able to compete, financially, with the aforementioned clubs this summer.
“I don’t think it quite works like that these days,” said Howe over the weekend, when asked about his budget. “The whole way of trading players has changed. The days of that working, where you have a strict budget and have to stick to it, has changed, I think.
“It’s a case of being smart and reacting to what happens, and trying to bring the right players with the right characteristics into the squad. That support and determination is there from the owners, but the rules mean there are restrictions placed upon us.”
Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems keen to slash Man United’s spending. Speaking on the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast in March, the British billionaire said: “The solution isn’t spending a lot of money on a couple of great players.
“They have done that, if you look at the last 10 years, they have spent a lot of money on a couple of great players. The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes who are managing and organising the club. And make sure we get recruitment right; it is such a vital part of football today.”
How to follow our NUFC WhatsApp channel
Did you know you can now get Newcastle United stories on WhatsApp? As well as our NUFC communities, we also have a channel dedicated to sending you the best news, opinion and analysis on all things black-and-white.
All you have to do is follow our channel on WhatsApp by clicking this link or you can find us by searching Chronicle Newcastle United.
Updates will then automatically appear if you select the Updates option on your WhatsApp menu and selecting the ‘Chronicle – Newcastle United’ channel. It’s as easy as that. There are already thousands signed up, but remember to turn your notifications on so don’t miss out.