Dinamo Zagreb playmaker Luka Modric, one of the most sought-after talents in European football, has visited Tyneside as Newcastle United look to negotiate a 20 million-pound (39.4million- dollar) transfer fee, it emerged Thursday, the dpa reported.
According to British media reports Modric, who has also been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona, visited Newcastle's Darlsey Park training ground on Tuesday, while the Dinamo Zagreb vice-chairman Zdravko Mamic spoke to Newcastle's executive director (football) about a potential fee.
Dinamo value the 22-year-old, a key figure in Croatia's qualification for Euro 2008 at 25 million pounds, but Newcastle believe they can trim that to 20 million.
Mamic was in London last November to speak to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich about a potential move, and it seems probable this is just the first stage in what is likely to be a protracted bidding process.