Newcastle United are reportedly in discussions over a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Luka Sucic, with new head coach Matthias Jaissle driving the pursuit.
The 23-year-old Croatian international has been described by one scouting network as “pretty similar to Dominik Szoboszlai” in terms of his physicality and ball-striking ability.
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle have “asked about” a possible summer deal for Sucic, suggesting that early talks have already taken place between the parties.
Sociedad signed Sucic from Red Bull Salzburg for just £8m in 2024, though he has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot in La Liga over his time in Spain.
The midfielder managed only ten starts in La Liga last season, contributing three goals, raising genuine questions about whether he has truly fulfilled his enormous potential at club level.
Jaissle, who previously worked with Sucic during his time at Salzburg, is now looking to reunite with his former protege on Tyneside as he rebuilds a Newcastle squad in transition.
The context surrounding this potential signing is significant, with Newcastle having lost Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur in a £100m deal and Bruno Guimaraes on his way to Arsenal this summer.
Those departures follow a turbulent period at St. James’ Park that also saw Anthony Gordon leave and Eddie Howe step down after almost five years as manager.
Howe’s exit came after a painful run of transfer setbacks, including the failure to sign Szoboszlai back in 2023, when Liverpool hijacked a prospective deal in a £60m move that summer.
Mohamed Salah has since described Szoboszlai as “one of the best players in the world,” underlining just how costly missing out on the Hungary captain has proven for Newcastle over the years.
In the Austrian Bundesliga, Sucic was a dominant force, averaging 4.5 duels, 2.1 dribbles, and 5.3 ball recoveries per game as he drove forward from midfield into attack with considerable effect.
The two midfielders shared time together at Salzburg, and it is considered no coincidence that their skillsets carry such notable similarities given their shared developmental environment.
In February 2023, Liverpool held internal discussions about signing Sucic from Salzburg before ultimately deciding not to proceed, instead moving to secure Szoboszlai months later.
That decision by Liverpool left the door open for Sociedad to sign Sucic cheaply, and Newcastle now believe they can capitalise on two years of relative stagnation in his career.
Jaissle has already brought in Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba as midfield additions this summer, but Sucic would represent a more dynamic, attack-minded option to help replace what has been lost.
Newcastle fans who have watched targets such as Johan Manzambi and Victor Munoz reject the club this window will be hoping Sucic proves a more receptive prospect to life at St. James’ Park.
Amanda Staveley once pledged to deliver the Premier League title to Newcastle supporters within a five-to-ten-year period, and though the Carabao Cup arrived after only three years, the club has since endured a painful and disorienting decline.
Signing Sucic would represent a statement of intent from Jaissle as he looks to steady a ship that has been rocked by repeated setbacks over the past year or more.
If the deal can be completed, it would carry a certain poetic justice for Newcastle supporters, given that Liverpool once swooped to deny them Szoboszlai in almost identical circumstances three years ago.