Alexander Sørloth pushes for Atletico Madrid exit amid Newcastle links
Alexander Sørloth has reportedly informed Atletico Madrid that he wants to leave, with Newcastle United monitoring the situation.
The Norwegian striker joined Atletico last summer in a £30million move but grew frustrated with limited opportunities. Despite starting just twice in La Liga across the full 90 minutes, Sørloth still managed 20 goals, including the league’s fastest-ever hat-trick against former club Real Sociedad.
Now approaching his 30th birthday, Sørloth has built a reputation as a prolific scorer across Europe, netting 66 goals in all competitions over the past three seasons. His earlier spell in the Premier League with Crystal Palace was underwhelming, but his resurgence has caught Newcastle’s attention.
Newcastle’s striker search
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are weighing up Sørloth as part of their hunt for a new forward. Their pursuit of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa hit a roadblock this week after a £40million bid was rejected, prompting alternative options to be considered.
It’s understood Sørloth would not be brought in to compete with Alexander Isak, but rather as a replacement for Callum Wilson. Eddie Howe hinted at this while addressing the media:
“We’re working hard on incomings. I wouldn’t say we’re close, but time is moving quickly. The squad is in a really good place, but we’re still looking to replace Callum Wilson. That’s the big area we’re working on.”
Breakdown with Simeone
Spanish journalist Jose Ignacio Fernandez (ABC) claims Sørloth has requested to leave Atletico following a complete breakdown in his relationship with manager Diego Simeone. The club are reportedly open to a sale if they receive the outstanding amount on their books, believed to be around £25million—well within Newcastle’s budget.
Howe on transfer plans
Speaking at his press conference, Howe confirmed Newcastle are still active ahead of the September 1 deadline:
“We are still in the market, but any deal has to be the right one. With PSR, we have to be careful. If we make a move that doesn’t fit our long-term planning, we could create problems for ourselves very quickly. So we have to get this right.”
