Steve McClaren’s second major signing as new Head Coach of Newcastle is 20 year-old striker Aleksandar Mitrovic from Anderlecht for a fee believed to be £12.5M.
At 6ft 3in tall, the Serbian international striker with 13 caps so far possesses a genuine aerial threat and scored many of his 36 goals in 69 games for Anderlecht with his head.
Originally from Belgrade, the ‘Beast from the East’ as he has been described made the switch to the Belgian League after just one full season with the Partizan Belgrade side proper scoring 13 goals in 28 games after graduating from feeder club Teleoptik aged 18.
He brings pace, aggression and goals to Newcastle’s forward line as well as a trademark ‘licking’ celebration as he ‘cuts the tongue of his critics’ in the words of a man described as “making Mario Balotelli look normal” by a Belgian journalist, a lively crowd-pleaser who is sure to go down well with Newcastle fans.
New Magpies Head Coach Steve McClaren told Newcastle supporters at The Fans Forum recently that exciting signings were close and to remain patient due to naturally high competition for quality players.
This was no more true than with Mitrovic, who has been the subject of intense interest from Porto and Roma as well as an on-off deal with Newcastle, who will be delighted to finally land their second major signing of the transfer window after Georginio Wijnaldum.
It is likely to be swiftly followed by the signing of Mitrovic’s Anderlecht team-mate, defender Chancel Mbemba, in what is turning into quite the summer spending spree for Mike Ashley’s Magpies.
