Newcastle transfer news: Aleksander Mitrovic not for sale despite interest from Italian giants Napoli
RAFA BENITEZ does not plan on selling Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic despite January interest from multiple clubs.
Newcastle have recently been informed of an incoming £18million offer from Antonio Conte's Chelsea for their young captain Jamaal Lascelles and are now being faced with more bad news in their attempts to keep their key players.
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Though there is interest no official offer has been made, but it does come at a time where Mitrovic is enjoying a run at the Tynside club.
The Serbian's agent has been speaking about a move to Italy, however he sees it as unlikely.
Mitrovic’s agent, Nenad Jestrovic, said: “It is very unlikely at the moment. The only certainty right now is that he will end the season at Newcastle United.
“In the past, there was some contact (with Napoli) but for now it’s out of the question. He will spend another six months in England and then will decide what to do with his future.”
Mitrovic has found it difficult to break into the Newcastle first team, being faced with injury and suspension on a number of occasions. However he has recently hit a run of good form, starting Newcastle's last three matches, scoring four goals, helping steer them to the quarter-finals of the EFL cup and the summit of the Championship.
Due to Dwight Gayle and his fantastic start to his career in the North East scoring 11 goals, Mitrovic found it hard to get game time. An injury to the ex-Crystal Palace man has allowed Mitrovic to make his mark and impress boss Rafa Benitez, who was named Championship manager of the month for October.
Benitez has, meanwhile, suggested that young winger Ronaldo Aarons has returned to training after he suffered a broken foot against Cheltenham in August.
The pacey England Under-20s international has struggled to fulfil his potential, after being tipped for a bright future by former Tynside boss Alan Pardew, but the current boss is a still a fan.
But Benitez has warned the winger that he must work to get a place in the Newcastle first team.
Benitez said: “He’s getting closer. He’s running and doing the tests. He was fine. He had surgery. He was wearing trainers and now he’s fine with the boots so he’s quite close now. He has to be fit for a while and then we will give him some time and some minutes.”