The fact Newcastle United are going toe to toe with two of Europe’s finest – Real Madrid and Barcelona – shows the direction of travel currently being undertaken on Tyneside.
Despite well-documented Profit and Sustainability Rules [PSR] frustration, the Magpies are attempting to seek out the best and brightest young talent for the future. This was a project started under Dan Ashworth, continued by Paul Mitchell and championed by Eddie Howe.
“Making stars is something that the club has had a vision to do since I arrived,” the Newcastle boss admitted earlier this month. “The guys in the other building [the academy] can really help develop and flourish [players] and nurture them into the first team.”
He added: “With PSR, I think we are probably more weighted in that direction. If you can bring one or two gems through then it can have a massive difference and help try and achieve everything we want to here. It is a mix of both [established players and young players].”
Despite not signing any first-team stars in January, Newcastle did make some moves. Baran Yildiz, 18, arrived from Turkish side Genclerbirligi, while Irish teen Kyle Fitzgerald, 17, also joined from Galway. These are moves for the future – and another one is on the horizon.
Antonio Cordero – the player Real Madrid and Barcelona are seeking to tempt their way – is the latest exciting prospect admired by Newcastle. The winger becomes a free agent in June and negotiations are ongoing to try and tempt the youngster to Tyneside rather than elsewhere.
Cordero, 18, would fall into the same bracket as those aforementioned new recruits in many ways – but there is a slight difference with the Malaga winger to those other teenage purchases; the attacker has already been thriving at a decent level of football lately, becoming a regular for the Spanish side in the country’s second tier.
Despite Malaga struggling in the Segunda this term, Cordero has been a standout talent. So much so that both Sevilla and Real Betis are said to be massively regretting letting the player slip through their grasp before Malaga pounced.
Cordero’s current club once believed they had done enough to keep the teen at the club beyond the summer, with a new contract scheduled to be drawn up before the end of 2024. However, when two of Spain – and Europe’s – biggest clubs come knocking, it is hard to ignore.
That relates to Newcastle as well, with Howe’s side needing to pull out all the stops to win an exciting transfer race. Should they succeed, sporting director Mitchell will deserve huge credit.
As it stands, Newcastle’s academy is shaping up nicely. Cordero would likely be in and around first-team training and matchday squads upon arrival but failing that would join a youth setup getting stronger by the day. Other purchases such as Alfie Harrison, Leo Shahar and Trevan Sanusi are each proving to be potential future stars, while Newcastle have already done the leg work to sign equally-exciting talent Vakhtang Salia, who will officially arrive at St James’ Park in the summer of 2025.
Newcastle’s first-team may be in need of some fresh faces but there are plenty at the club queuing up to one day take a spot in the club’s Premier League squad.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-transfer-earn-paul-30990917
