Newcastle United were credited with an interest in Bristol City's Adam Webster earlier this month (as per TEAMtalk). However, according to Bristol Live, Newcastle will have to pay £30 million if they want to secure the services of the Englishman this summer. 

 

He was brought to Ashton Gate last summer from Ipswich (BBC), but in his 12 months at Ashton Gate, it looks like he's done enough to convince a number of top-flight clubs of his credentials. Webster was statistically rated as the seventh best player in the Championship last campaign by football analytics site WhoScored.com (as per Bristol Live), so the Magpies' interest doesn't come as too much of a surprise.

According to the Bristol Live report, Lee Johnson's side don't want to let Webster leave this summer and have slapped the £30m price tag on him for that reason. Of course, he's clearly a quality player as mentioned above, but at that kind of price it doesn't make sense for Ashley to splash a large amount of his budget on a player who is yet to experience top-flight football. After all, signing Jacob Murphy from Norwich City back in 2017 for £12 million hasn't exactly worked out as he's produced just one goal and three assists in 41 appearances.

It was reported earlier in June by The Chronicle that Rafa Benitez would have just £60 million to spend this summer. Obviously, Benitez has now gone, but that figure may still stand, and should Webster be signed it would see the Geordies splash half of their budget on bolstering a position that they already have five players in.

The Guardian reported in May that one of the sticking points surrounding Rafa getting a new deal was the transfer policy, as Mike Ashley was reportedly unwilling to pay Salomon Rondon's £16.5m release clause. Therefore, it would come as some surprise if he ends up paying £30 million for Webster after reportedly refusing to pay just over half of Webster's price tag to sign Newcastle's 2018-19 Player of the Season.

Mike Ashley broke Newcastle's transfer record back in January to sign Miguel Almiron for £20m, BBC, after the previous record had stood since 2005. Almiron has struggled to settle since making the move having failed to register a single goal or assist in 10 Premier League appearances, so perhaps it would make sense for the Magpies to play it safe this window rather than spending big on another player from outside of the English top-flight.

Newcastle fans, do you believe the Webster rumours? Let us know!