Newcastle United have agreed a deal with Benfica to sign 23-year-old Bosnian defender Amar Dedic, with the transfer fee reported at 35 million euros. Dedic is expected to fly to Newcastle on Monday for a medical, with the club confident he will be available for the Premier League opener against Liverpool on 23 August.
Dedic previously worked under Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle at Red Bull Salzburg, where the pair won two Austrian league titles and a domestic cup together before Dedic's move to Benfica last year. The right-back, who has 31 caps for Bosnia-Herzegovina, ranked second among Primeira Liga defenders for runs into the opposition penalty area last season.
The signing would provide cover for Tino Livramento, who is still recovering from a calf injury sustained on international duty with England in June. Newcastle are also pursuing a permanent deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha, though Bayern are unwilling to sanction a loan move.