Hlozek’s father speaks out on United interest

ADAM Hlozek’s father has revealed Newcastle United were

‘somewhere else financially’ when it came to the sides who monitored his son - but that financial backing will now be tested with the Magpies’ move for team-mate Moussa Diaby.

Newcastle’s recruitment team were aware of Hlozek, who was among the highest scoring teenagers in Europe last season with Sparta Prague - but did not make a move for the forward.

It was Bayer Leverkusen who ultimately won the race to sign Hlozek last month after holding off a late approach from Arsenal.

Hlozek, 19, can play across the frontline so it will be interesting to see where the Czech international lines up for Leverkusen, particularly given United’s interest in team-mate Moussa Diaby.

Leverkusen tended to field a 4-2-3-1 last season and, whatever happens with Diaby this summer, the Bundesliga giants know they have already signed another quality forward in Hlozek while star striker Schick has also penned a new long-term deal.

Those developments may yet work in Newcastle’s favour but Leverkusen remain optimistic Diaby will stay for another season as the France international wants to play in the Champions League.

Die Werkself are also under no immediate pressure to sell because the 22-year-old still has three years left on his contract.

However, sporting director

Simon Rolfes has admitted ‘when clubs with incredibly large financial opportunities bid for such a player we have to sell at some point’.

Leverkusen will have to lower their asking price of £55m-£60m for Diaby but, tellingly, Newcastle have not walked away.

Having already signed Nick

Pope, Matt Targett and Sven Botman this summer, Newcastle look set to break the club’s all-time record for the amount spent in a summer window - even while complying with the Premier League’s regulations.

Hlozek’s father Zbyne knows all about that financial backing, himself, saying: “I would like to emphasise money did not play a role for us. If so, we would have chosen differently.

“There was Newcastle. They were somewhere else financially. Lyon, Sevilla, Dortmund, Bayern.

“However, we wanted to give the next step a little sense, so as not to immediately jump to a mega club.”