Newcastle United may reportedly be set to revive their curiosity in Flamengo starlet, Matheus Franca, having failed of their pursuit of {the teenager} in the course of the January window.
What’s the window?
In keeping with Brazilian outlet Coluna do Fla, the Magpies reportedly made three makes an attempt to signal the 18-year-old final month, with journalist Fabrizio Romano revealing previous to deadline day that a suggestion from the northeast facet of round €20m (£18m) had been rebuffed.
This newest report means that the Rio-based outfit had been on the lookout for nearer to €25m (£22m) with a purpose to enable the promising ahead to depart, with the Tynesiders having needed to abandon their hopes of sealing a deal till the summer season.
The piece goes on so as to add that the St James’ Park outfit ‘dream’ of securing the teenager’s providers forward of subsequent season, though they’re more likely to be joined within the race by Bundesliga facet, Bayer Leverkusen.
Newcastle’s reply to Vinicius Jr
Newcastle do seem like placing better emphasis on securing thrilling younger expertise for the longer term, having solely lately snapped up Australian teenager Garang Kuol from Central Coast Mariners, earlier than subsequently shifting the 18-year-old on loan to Hearts.
The signing of the aforementioned Franca may nicely be yet one more astute transfer for Eddie Howe and co, with the highly-rated “sensation” – as lauded by the Chronicle’s Aaron Stokes – having shone throughout his embryonic senior profession thus far.
That’s showcased by the truth that the versatile ahead – who “can play almost everywhere” based on expertise scout Jacek Kulig – has seven targets to his identify in simply 30 appearances at first-team stage.
Ought to Newcastle preserve pursuing Franca this summer season?
Sure please!
Not for me!
Regardless of that relative inexperience, these again on Tyneside shall be hoping that if they’re to signal the Brazil U20 worldwide any time quickly, he can emulate the success of one other gem to have departed Flamengo within the latest previous – Vinicius Jr.
Very similar to his compatriot, the present Real Madrid star was additionally attracting admiring glances from Europe’s elite throughout his time in his homeland, regardless of his youth, having in the end been snapped up by Los Blancos on a £39.6m deal in Might 2017.
After becoming a member of the La Liga giants a yr later, the fleet-footed dynamo has since gone on to emerge as a number one determine on the Santiago Bernabeu, with 48 targets and 49 assists to his identify in 199 video games throughout all fronts, together with 12 targets and 6 assists in all competitions to this point this season.
Lauded as one of many Spanish top-flight’s “most dangerous and creative players” by journalist Matt Clark, the 20-cap worldwide is little doubt an asset that any membership could be determined to have on their books, therefore the hope that Newcastle can discover their subsequent model of the winger within the type of Franca.
The latter man does seemingly share traits with the Madrid man – not simply on account of his nationality and talent to characteristic all throughout the frontline – showcased by the truth that the rising wonderkid averages 2.18 dribbles accomplished per recreation as a marker of his technical brilliance, whereas Vinicius is just barely forward as he averages 2.76 for that very same metric.
The trail that the latter man has taken by buying and selling life in South America for Europe isn’t at all times a voyage that proves fruitful, though if Howe can unearth a Vincius-esque expertise with the signing of Franca, then these on Tyneside needs to be in for a deal with.