Officials from Newcastle United travelled to Holland yesterday for talks with FC Twente over striker Luuk de Jong but Twente boss Steve McClaren says only an “absurd bid” will tempt the Dutch side to part with their player.
Newcastle want to add to their striking options this summer, not least because of concerns over the future of Demba Ba, whose £7million release clause is valid for another month yet, and also because of concerns that Ba and his striker partner Papiss Demba Cisse may be absent in January at the African Cup Of Nations.
De Jong’s agent Louis Laros admitted yesterday that he was in the dark over the progress of Newcastle’s bid for the 21-year-old but McClaren hinted yesterday that he wants de Jong to remain at the Dutch side.
“We are in complete control of the situation,” the former England boss told De Telegraafnewspaper in Holland. “Nobody has to leave and only an absurd bid will tempt us to part with Luuk.”
Twente are believed to be demanding 15million euro (£12million) for de Jong who scored 32 goals in all competitions for the club last season. Newcastle are believed to have made an opening bid of 10million euro (£8million) and we reported earlier this month that they could be ready to return with a second bid of around 12million euro (£9.5million).
As many as 15 clubs watched de Jong last season although only Newcastle and Portugese sideBenfica are believed to have shown any solid interest.
