Newcastle United have struck a deal with Benfica to sign right-back Amar Dedic for £29.5 million, according to Sky Sports News. The 23-year-old is expected to fly to Tyneside on Monday ahead of a medical, with the club confident he will be registered in time for their Premier League opener against Liverpool next Sunday.

A handful of formalities remain before the transfer is finalised, but all parties are optimistic that Dedic will be a Newcastle player before the week is out. The match against Liverpool is live on Sky Sports.

Filling the gap left by Trippier

The signing addresses a clear need at Newcastle following Kieran Trippier's departure to Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer this summer. Tino Livramento remains sidelined with a calf injury picked up on England duty in June, meaning Dedic could be called into action immediately at St James' Park.

Dedic has a pre-existing relationship with Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle — the pair worked together at Red Bull Salzburg, where Dedic was part of the squad that retained the Austrian Bundesliga title in 2023. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has earned 31 caps for his country and started three of their four matches at the World Cup.

Newcastle also pursuing Palhinha

Newcastle are simultaneously in talks with Bayern Munich over a permanent deal for midfielder Joao Palhinha. The club turned their attention to Palhinha after moves for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and a proposed loan of Palhinha to Aston Villa both collapsed last week.

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl made clear the German club would not sanction a loan move for Palhinha — a stance that ended Villa's interest. Palhinha is now weighing his next step, with options including a return to Portugal, where Benfica and Sporting have both registered interest, or remaining in the Premier League, which is understood to be his preference if a suitable offer materialises.