Investment Fund Set To Snatch Aleksandar Mitrovic Away From Newcastle's Grasp

NUFC look set to be scuppered by an investment fund - and FC Porto.

By Chris Waugh /

Newcastle United's pursuit of Aleksandar Mitrovic looks set to end in disappointment - with an investment fund group allegedly bankrolling FC Porto's bid for the forward. The Magpies have had a £12.3 million bid for Mitrovic accepted by Anderlecht and are hoping the striker will opt to move to the North East, although the 20-year-old has been holding out for a Champions League side - with Chelsea also reportedly having made a bid. WhatCulture.com/NUFC understands that Newcastle's deal for Mitrovic was extremely close to completion before Porto came up with an 11th hour bid of £14 million (‚20 million) - and that has largely been funded by investment group Doyen Sports.
Portuguese outlet DN.pt claim that Doyen Sports will bankroll the deal before taking a percentage of the profit should Mitrovic be sold on in the future. Without the help of Doyen Sports, Porto would not be able to even match - let alone go slightly above - Newcastle's bid of £12.3 million. Interestingly, South America-based Doyen Sports are the same company who Sporting Lisbon are currently locked in a legal battle with over profits from the sale of Marcos Rojo to Manchester United in the summer of 2014. Porto are looking to bring Mitrovic in as a replacement for Atletico Madrid-bound Jackson Martinez - and the money they have now had invested into the deal by Doyen to bring the 20-year-old Serbia international could finally knock Newcastle out of the race. Although Mitrovic is their primary striking target, Newcastle also have other irons in the fire - with the club still very much interested in Queens Park Rangers€™ Charlie Austin and Wolfsburg€™s Bas Dost - who they want to move on to swiftly, which is why they have demanded an answer from the Serbia international.
With Newcastle set to be rebuffed in their advances, or at least see the transfer drag on for longer than they would like, WhatCulture.com/NUFC understands it is highly likely they will move on to another target - with a bid for Austin imminent. Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City are just two of the other clubs to have also been linked to Mitrovic, along with Roma. Mitrovic 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 11-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. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.