RB Leipzig are unlikely to see a club pay the reported £60m to £70m release clause for Dominik Szoboszlai - as Newcastle United and other teams consider their next move in the chase for the midfielder. However, it is understood that the German club are 'resigned' to losing their star man this summer.
The Magpies have scouted the Szoboszlai and remain among the favourites for his signature but there are doubts over whether the Hungarian's release clause, which is due to expire on July 1st, will be acted upon by United or any other side.
Speaking on The Monday Show of The Everything is Black and White Podcast, our Newcastle United Editor Aaron Stokes believes the price for Szoboszlai may fall as the window goes on.
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"As the options start to thin out towards the end of the summer and as Leipzig maybe get a little bit more desperate to get some cash in for him, I think then we'll see that price drop," he told host Andrew Musgrove.
"At the minute, I look at the fees being touted for him, 70million, 60 million, and I just can't see it happening at that price at the moment. Now if the clause runs out on July 1, then you may see some movement before then but it could drag on afterward and I don't think you'll see any club paying more than what the release clause was."
Leipzig have already sold Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea this summer and will see Konrad Laimer join Bayern Munich on a free transfer with whispers that they could also lose Joško Gvardiol to Manchester City for £100m. The German side may not be forced to sell from a financial aspect but rather the desire of Szoboszlai to leave.
"Whether it's Newcastle United related or not," Stokes added, "Szoboszlai has had plenty of opportunities in the last couple of weeks to come out and commit his future to Leipzig.
"Every time he gets put in front of a camera, he's asked 'what does the future hold?,' and always says something along the lines of 'I want to try something new,' or 'I don't want to have any regrets,' - so I think Leipzig are resigned to losing him.
"The people I've spoken to say he will be leaving Leipzig this summer. For Newcastle, the only thing that probably stops them is the price."
Newcastle's interest in the 22-year-old is no secret and comes on the back of the club on the brink of confirming the arrival of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali for a reported £52m.
The transfer team at St James' Park have shown they are clever negotiators when it comes to transfer fees - and Stokes believes the Magpies will not end up paying an extortionist amount to sign Szoboszlai.
"The thing with release clauses is that is what Leipzig believed at the time that he would be worth, it's not to say that he actually is worth 60 or 70 million for me.
"It's a big risk to sign two players [Tonali and Szoboszlai] potentially for north of 100 to 120 million, and they haven't played Premier League football but there are other options out there and Newcastle will be smart. They won't be railroaded into any deals."
You can listen to the full show of The Monday Show on The Everything is Black and White Podcast by clicking here. The Everything is Black and White Podcast is an award-winning show all about Newcastle United with more than 100,000 downloads every month.
