Newcastle interested in Santon-Bojan swap deal

EXCLUSIVE
By Vittorio Campanile

Newcastle United are keen on bringing in Roma forward Bojan Krkic this summer, and are prepared to sacrifice Davide Santon in order to push through a deal, Goal.com understands.

The 21-year-old attacker struggled to adapt during his first season at the Stadio Olimpico, having arrived on a two-year contract from Barcelona in July 2011, leading to suggestions new coach Zdenek Zeman is looking to move him on.

And the Magpies have stepped forward as potential suitors, but any agreement would still allow the Blaugrana to exercise their option of bringing him back to Camp Nou at the end of the upcoming campaign.

Roma secured Bojan, who scored seven goals in 33 Serie A appearances for the Giallorossi last season, in a €13 million transfer, but would have to pay another €28m if they wanted to retain the one-cap Spain man beyond 2012-13.

Given the expensive nature of a potential transfer and the capital club's search for a new full-back, Newcastle are willing to include Santon in a bid to further convince Roma to part with the player before the end of the summer transfer window.

The defender joined the Premier League outfit for €6m from Inter last August and, despite starting slowly at the Sports Direct Arena, eventually made 24 appearances under manager Alan Pardew, helping the side to a fifth-placed finish.

Nonetheless, the Italy Under-21 international would be happy to return to the peninsula, but only with a prestigious club, and Roma could be his next port of call if Bojan decides his future lies in England.

However, while a transfer could well be in the pipeline, Bojan Krkic is believed not to be keen on making the move as he believes he would flourish under the tutelage of Zeman - a coach renowned for his attacking philosophy.