Man City could block Newcastle signing James Maddison alternative Szoboszlai

Manchester City could reportedly prevent Newcastle from landing Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig if Pep Guardiola’s treble-winners wrap up the signing of highly-rated Croatian central defender Josko Gvardiol. The Premier League and European champions have now retracted their interest in West Ham captain Declan Rice with Arsenal now understood to be in advanced negotiations over a £105million British-record transfer after submitting a monstrous proposal on Tuesday evening.

Arsenal are now negotiating a sufficient payment structure with the Hammers after tabling a bid worth £100m plus £5m in add-ons from the England international lynchpin.

But City’s decision to walk away from the table is now expected to strengthen their desire to spend big on Gvardiol, who is a long-standing target for Pep Guardiola.

The Croatia international is believed to have a release clause written into his Leipzig contract worth £98m but that does not become active until next summer.

It means City have to negotiate with Leipzig this summer and the Bundesliga side will also be cautious that Dinamo Zagreb are entitled to 20 per cent of any fee after previously negotiating a sell-on clause.

Should Leipzig receive a blockbuster fee from City for Gvardiol – it is only likely to strengthen their negotiating stance on Newcastle target Szoboszlai, according to German newspaper Bild.

Szoboszlai is also believed to have a £60m time-sensitive release clause but there has been an element of confusion as to when it expires.

Sky Germany are reporting that the clause comes to an end on July 15 while Fabrizio Romano has declared it’s due to expire in a matter of days on June 30.

Either way, Newcastle will have to pay big bucks if they are to land the Hungarian playmaker who is understood to be firmly interested in a move to St James’ Park.

He said back in May: “If there is interest [this summer], I will consider it not because I don’t have a good time in Leipzig, but because I have always been interested in challenges.

“On one side of the scale is a good Leipzig, with a coach who trusts me and teammates who accept me and also believe in me. No footballer can wish for more than that. This is quite an extra situation.

“At the same time, on the other side, there is the question, if I can now take a step towards Europe’s top five or six clubs, should I say no to the challenge? I’ve never been that type!

“I am in a very good position, as I can play in a fantastic club. However, I don’t want 15 years from now to look back on my career as if I didn’t get the most out of it.”

Szoboszlai has reportedly disgruntled RB Leipzig chiefs with his comments but the Bundesliga club could yet hold firm this summer as they prepare to say goodbye to both Christopher Nkunku and Gvardiol, who seems destined to join City.

Newcastle do have other options in mind as they seek to strengthen their forward line including Juventus’ Federico Chiesa.

At this moment in time, the Magpies are thought to be prioritising the completion of the Sandro Tonali deal which should finally become official by the end of the week.

An agreement remains in place with AC Milan for the Italian midfielder after Steve Nickson and Dan Ashworth jetted to Italy last week for face-to-face negotiations with the Rossoneri.