Newcastle COMPLETE £12.3m Signing Of Aleksandar Mitrovic

Newcastle United have completed the £12.3 million signing of Aleksandar Mitrovic from Anderlecht - as the club finally reinforce their forward ranks with an exciting acquisition and the fourth most-expensive transfer in their history. The 20-year-old Serbia international has signed a five-year deal with the Magpies and he could make his Newcastle debut in the pre-season friendly at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United next weekend, should he receive a work permit - which appears likely to be a formality. This news arrives less than a week-and-a-half after PSV Eindhoven attacking-midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum completed his £14.5 million move to Newcastle to become Steve McClaren's first summer signing. https://twitter.com/TheOriginalKr/status/623185377180917760 Mitrovic flew to Newcastle on Sunday, a day after saying goodbye to his Anderlecht teammates, and underwent a medical on Monday, which he completed before signing on the dotted line. It is believed he will earn upwards of £27,000 a week after tax, plus he will receive £16,000 for every Newcastle win and roughly half that for each draw. It was quite clear the Serbian was set to be a Newcastle player by the fact he was photographed by @TheOriginalKr walking through The Hilton on the Quayside in a Newcastle shirt on Monday evening. Speaking to nufc.co.uk, Mitrovic revealed his delight at the transfer:

"I am so happy to have signed for Newcastle. "I visited the stadium and it is amazing. I have played in a lot of impressive stadiums in my career but St James' Park is so big, I can't wait to play my first game here. "I know how passionate the fans are. This is a club with a very big history and the fans are a big part of that. There will be pressure here, for sure, but I like pressure. "I also know about the famous players who have played for Newcastle United, like Alan Shearer, who is a hero of mine. I hope I can play like him for this club. It will be an honour."

Only Michael Owen (£16 million), Shearer (£15 million), and fellow new recruit Wijnaldum (£14.5 million) have been recruited by Newcastle for a greater price than Mitrovic (roughly £12.3 million). Magpies supporters are in disbelief due to the fact they were the only Premier League club prior to the deals for both Wijnaldum and Mitrovic yet to make a signing this summer - but now they have spent upwards of £25 million on two players, which displays a real statement of intent. Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma, Benfica, Porto and Chelsea had also been credited with an interest in Mitrovic, but Newcastle have won the race for the striker€™s signature. Porto even tried to hijack the transfer at the 11th hour with a bid bankrolled by investment firm Doyen Sports, but they could not get the funds together in time with the Magpies' deal too far down the line already.

Newcastle boss McClaren is looking to recruit at least two strikers this summer, with the Magpies believed to have turned their attentions now to Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin, with Wolfsburg's Bas Dost a back-up option. And the ex-England boss said of Mitrovic's arrival:

"This is a fantastic signing for us. We have fought off a lot of competition to secure a top young talent in Europe. "Aleksandar is someone who can develop with the team and someone who will help us to get to where we want to go. "As a board we have worked hard to make it happen. It is another demonstration that we are wanting to push on."

Mitrovic himself has netted 44 goals in 90 matches for Anderlecht, and has a career total of 69 strikes from 158 games. A powerful and relatively-quick forward, Mitrovic has an eye for goal and he grabbed headlines when he scored Anderlecht€™s equaliser at the Emirates Stadium last November when the Belgian side came from three goals down to draw 3-3 against Arsenal in a Champions League group-stage match. Anderlecht paid Partizan Belgrade a club-record £4 million for the 13-cap Serbia international, who started his career at Teleoptik, back in August 2013 and he has gone on to become one of Europe€™s most sought-after forwards. In 2014-15 Mitrovic bagged 28 goals in 51 matches, including 20 in 37 Belgian Pro League appearances and three in the Champions League. CLICK HERE to read "17 Things Newcastle Fans Need To Know About Aleksandar Mitrovic".And CLICK HERE to read quotes for Mitrovic's first Newcastle interview - in which he admits he loves to "fight" on the pitch.For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.