Newcastle United are reportedly keeping tabs on Brazilian teenage sensation Andrey Santos but will have to wait in his transfer pursuit.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle United are tracking Brazilian wonderkid Andrey Santos for a long time now, but have yet to reach a transfer agreement with his parent club, Vasco da Gama, despite their willingness to spend a staggering €35 million on the 18-year-old midfield prodigy.
The Magpies were one of several clubs thought to be keeping a close eye on the progress of the Vasco da Gama youngster after he broke into their first team over the last year, and were even said to have lodged a formal offer to secure his services. However, as things stand, nothing has materialized, with the race for the teenage prospect still wide open.
Brazilian outlet Globo Esporto have also suggested that discussions over the move between both clubs has stalled and Vasco are not entertaining any bids until the end of the current Brasileirao Serie B season in order to ensure a return to the top flight.
That means any suitor may have to wait until December to start talks over a potential move for the box-to-box midfielder. Santos has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with the Brazilian second-tier outfit earlier in September, which runs until the summer of 2027, albeit protected by a very exclusive €50 million release clause.
Newcastle are monitoring Brazilian top talent Andrey Santos since long time but there’s still no agreement in place with Vasco da Gama. Nothing done, as things stand. ⚪️?? #NUFC
Open race with many clubs in for Andrey Santos, midfielder born in 2004. pic.twitter.com/GOLDJgLPDt
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 27, 2022
The 18-year-old midfield prospect has already made a name for himself in his homeland after becoming the youngest goal-scorer in the club’s history, and he has netted six times in his 30 first-team appearances since then, albeit most of them having arrived in the second tier.
Regarded as a complete midfielder thanks to his tough tackling, press resistance, ball carrying, and technical supremacy, he has managed to attract interest from major European clubs such as PSG and Barcelona.
Newcastle are very interested in landing the exciting midfielder and may also have the upper hand in the race to secure Santos’ signature, as he shares the same agent as Bruno Guimaraes. The Tyneside outfit already have Joelinton and Guimaraes as the Brazilian contingent in their squad, with the latter proving a success since his January arrival.
And it looks like Toon boss Eddie Howe wants to deploy an all-Brazilian midfield trio going by their interest in Santos. However, it seems that they still have a lot of ground to make up before reaching a full agreement with Vasco da Gama for the talented midfielder.
Despite producing the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Douglas Luis, and others, Vasco have never sold a player for more than €20 million in their history, so it would not be surprising if they hold out for the best price for their prized asset in the aftermath of a transfer battle between multiple clubs in the upcoming transfer windows.
