Jaissle Points Finger at Luka Sučić
The Croatian international is once again on the radar of coach Matthias Jaissle, who knows him well from their time together at Red Bull Salzburg.
The Croatian international is once again on the radar of coach Matthias Jaissle, who knows him well from their time together at Red Bull Salzburg.
Newcastle United is going through a turbulent summer. The club has already lost Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, and captain Bruno Guimarães is on the verge of a transfer to Arsenal, valued at around £75 million. New coach Matthias Jaissle is thus facing the near-total dismantling of the midfield that was the backbone of the team.
To rebuild the squad, the club at St James' Park has a budget of around £150 million for the final stretch of the transfer window. According to English media reports, the plan is to bring in at least three new players, and Croatian international Luka Sučić has emerged as a candidate for a key role in the middle of the park.
Jaissle and Sučić know each other well from their shared days at Red Bull Salzburg. The German tactician took over the Austrian club in 2021, when Sučić was just 18 years old. It was under his guidance that the young Croatian became a regular starter. In the 2021/22 season, he scored eight league goals and was a key cog in the team that clinched the double and reached the Champions League round of 16.
Now 23, the Real Sociedad midfielder's profile fits perfectly with the demands Jaissle places on his team, quick ball progression through the lines and an aggressive, high-intensity style of play. An added advantage is that the coach knows firsthand what to expect from him.
"I'm afraid to say what class Sučić and Baturina could grow into," Samovojska told Narod.hr.
The Croatian midfielder, however, is not the only name on Newcastle's wish list. The club is also monitoring Victor Froholdt from Porto and German international Angelo Stiller, who holds Croatian citizenship through his mother. However, according to the latest information, their arrivals this summer are considered unlikely. Felix Nmecha was also linked, but that possibility has been ruled out.
In addition to midfielders, the club is also on the lookout for a full-back, and depending on Jaissle's assessment, they could also turn to another striker. The key goal is not to spend the entire budget on one star, but to bring in at least three reinforcements and practically rebuild the squad after a summer marked by significant departures.
