Newcastle United have reached an agreement with Ligue 1 side Amiens SC for the transfer of Sweden defender Emil Krafth, according to Sky Sports.
The 25-year-old right-back is believed to be travelling to Tyneside on Wednesday, August 7 to carry out a medical ahead of his move to the Magpies, with the 20-cap international expected to challenge DeAndre Yedlin and Javier Manquillo for honours in Steve Bruce’s first-team plans.
United’s transfer team, led by Head of Recruitment Steve Nickson, had been scouting the defender’s progress throughout last season while he spent the term on loan with Amiens from Bologna, before making the move permanent this summer for a reported €2.5million (£2.3m).
Newcastle had begun negotiations with an offer of €1.5million (£1.3m) before improving our advances to the region of €5million (£4.6m). However, they were rejected as Amiens were thought to be holding out for €7million (£6.4m).
But Sky Sports understand we have reached an agreement with Les Licornes to pay £5million for the Sweden international, who played 36 games across all competitions last season, scoring and assisting one goal.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon has also claimed Krafth will be carrying out his Newcastle medical on Wednesday, after he pushed Amiens to accept our offers so that he could make a move into the Premier League before the window closes on Thursday.
Toon fans reacting on social media to Krafth being set for a medical have not been overly excited, though, as some Magpies supporters have suggested the right-back will not be an improvement on either of Yedlin or Manquillo.
Here’s how these fans reacted…
”Useful right-back addition.”
Based on what? Mark, have you seen him play? I have. A lot. Decent player and a good lad, but absolutely NOT an improvement on DeAndre Yedlin and Javi Manquillo.
He’s also second choice at right-back for the ???????? national team behind Mikael Lustig…
— Inter Miami Sweden ???????? (@IMCFSWEDEN) August 7, 2019
Played 40 times for Bologna and then got shipped out to Amien on loan!!!!!! And yes I have seen him play on a number of occasions Simply no better than what we have.
— Peter E (@PEFIORENTINA) August 7, 2019
<
As a Swedish magpie I’m sorry to inform he will be useless in the PL. not good enough at all, I can’t even get my head around how they even identified him as a transfer target
— Rickard Strömberg (@OGRollo) August 7, 2019
As a fellow Swedish magpie I can only agree. He’ll keep the bench warm I guess..
— Chrissyboi (@CheddarGeorge2) August 7, 2019
???? pic.twitter.com/eBOSI7vuZX
— Jacob Lawless (@lawlessHEF) August 7, 2019
Have seen him play several times live at Bologna and the Swedish national team. I’d rather say his offensive game is ok, but he has been weak as a RB in a 4-4-2 formation. I don’t see his passing or crossing as his weakest sides though.
— Niklas Rosvall (@roszival) August 7, 2019
Is he actually any better than the two we’ve got (Manquillo and Yedlin)?
— Dazza (@NUFC_DAZZA) August 7, 2019
As a Swede I am very dissapointed with this, he will give us nothing special. Should have gone for someone younger, better and more exciting…
— Jonas Åkerblom (@JonasNo9) August 7, 2019
“Useful right-back addition” seriously?
I’d say the average right backs we have are better
Weird choice….— nEwCaStLe fOr LiFe (@77_SH_ER) August 7, 2019