Newcastle United may look to add South American duo Andrey Santos and Maximo Perrone to their January wish list.
PIF are looking to add young, emerging prospects to Eddie Howe’s squad as the Magpies continue to build towards what they hope will be sustained Premier League dominance.
The Northern Echo reported that Newcastle are expected to move for Vasco da Gama gem Santos next month, with the Brazilian expected to leave for Europe in 2023. Meanwhile, Argentine outlet Diario Popular suggested that the Magpies are in talks with Velez Sarsfield over a move for Perrone, who will be out of his contract at his current club in the next few months as things stand.
What’s the word?
According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Santos and Perrone are two targets who have been mentioned alongside the likes of James Maddison, with the situation regarding a Tyneside move for the pair set to “become clearer” as we venture closer towards the opening of the winter market.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: “There are other people they’re looking at. Andrey Santos has been mentioned. Maximo Perrone is somebody on their radar too. I think this is certainly a situation that will become clearer as we get closer to January.”
PIF’s ambition
Having already signed highly-rated Australia forward Garang Kuol from Central Coast Mariners, the Magpies are looking to build on their talent for the future, with PIF’s long-term vision quite transparent.
With the 18-year-old set to formally arrive in January, Newcastle may look to move for a rising star of the same age in Santos, a Brazilian midfielder who has just endured a breakout season whilst helping Vasco da Gama gain promotion back to his country’s top flight.
Santos asserted himself as an all-rounder in his 33 Serie B appearances this year and was rated as Vasco’s top player in their promotion-achieving campaign, as per FOTMOB.
If Newcastle can secure the Brazilian starlet, they may be hopeful that they can also lure 19-year-old defensive midfielder Perrone to St James’ Park in what would make for a double South American coup.
The Velez Sarsfield man has also endured a breakout campaign in 2022, making 15 appearances in the Argentine Liga Profesional. In that time, Perrone showed signs of functioning as a string-puller at the heart of the midfield engine room, having averaged 56.3 accurate passes per 90 – the second highest in the squad.
Both players appear to be promising prospects, so it would be a tremendous double dose of recruitment from PIF if the South American duo come to Newcastle in 2023.
