This summer, NUFC have been linked to just about every single player in the European game. Moussa Diaby, Lucas Paqueta and Marco Asensio are three names that just won’t go away at the moment, but will we actually sign any of them?
According to Luke Edwards, Newcastle are looking to make at least one ‘big signing’ this summer. Edwards believes the club are set to spend big on one of their main targets, and then look to loan in another option. Given that we’re reportedly looking for a striker and a winger right now, it’s a source of debate among the fanbase which area is more of a priority.
Moussa Diaby – Newcastle’s number one target?
Moussa Diaby is a name that has been consistently mentioned in every Newcastle transfer bulletin over the course of this summer. The talented French winger is a man in high demand, and Eddie Howe’s team seem to be in pole position to sign him – however, Leverkusen do NOT want to sell and are doing everything they can to keep him in Germany.
As reported by the Northern Echo, Newcastle will have to pony up a fee in the region of £60m if we want to land Diaby this summer. That would be a club record fee by quite some distance, so it’s another that’s said to be very difficult to foresee the club doing in this window. Having already signed Matt Targett, Nick Pope and Sven Botman this summer, the budget is said to be rapidly decreasing.
However, Luke Edwards believes that the club are considering going big on one of their main targets this summer. Could it be Diaby? I would say he’s probably the most likely candidate if we are to look to spend big on one player in this window. It’s no secret that Eddie Howe and the club admire him and see him as a top target, so it’s definitely one to keep an eye on.
Marco Asensio to NUFC?
Marco Asensio of Real Madrid is a name that has been mentioned a fair bit in the foreign press press over the last few days. Reports in Spain this morning claim that we have offered the Spanish giants a fee in excess of £23m for the out of favour attacker. There’s no debate that Asensio would be a real eye-catching signing, but will it actually happen?
My gut instinct for this one would be probably not. There’s no substance or base to that claim, just merely my honest opinion. Here’s what the winger said about his future earlier in the summer:
He said: “I have one more year on my contract yet here we are talking about me leaving Real Madrid. This is an important moment for me, I will not deny it.
“I am more mature and not only on the field, this is an important moment and I will have to make important decisions. Me and my family know that I have to keep growing and moving forward. I want to achieve important things in football and they help me do that.”
Personally, I would like to see this deal happen and, if it could happen at the reported £23m price tag, it does feel somewhat like an option the club would prefer given Leverkusen’s lofty valuation of the club’s top target Moussa Diaby.
At 26, Asensio arguably still has his best years ahead of him. With the likes of Arsenal already sniffing around and, most importantly, the players desire to stay in the Spanish capital, it feels like it would be a tough deal to do. However, if the clubs do manage to agree a fee, then the Spaniard would certainly have a big decision to be made. Could we sign a superstar from Los Blancos in this window? Time will tell
Lucas Paqueta – Is it even possible?
The links to Lucas Paqueta, which if we’re honest have been largely fan driven give the relationship he has with Toon star man Bruno Guimaraes, have been ever-present since January. The Brazilian has been to Tyneside to visit his good friend with his partner, and will no doubt have heard from Bruno all about his incredible start to life in north east England.
As much as we’d all love for this transfer to come off, reports from around the north east press suggest he isn’t much of a priority for the club this summer. His primary position is attacking midfield, so many fans have been dreaming of Bruno, Paqueta and Joelinton all-Brazilian midfield.
Central midfield doesn’t look to be at the top of the priority list right now, but it is worth pointing out that he is more than capable of operating from a wide area. With the options we already have in his primary position, as well as the rather steep price tag, it does feel rather unlikely that we will see Lucas Paqueta adorning the black and white stripes next season… but never say never.
If you could choose any of the three players mentioned in this article, who would you go for? Let me know on Twitter! More transfer related write-ups here.
