- Newcastle make bid for Brazilian teenager
- Arsenal have already made contact with players camp
- He is one of the next stars from Palmeiras academy
Newcastle United have already been active in the South American market this month after sgning 16-year-old Johan Martinez, but that doesn’t look to be the end of it, as they are scouting Palmeiras forward Eduardo Conceicao.
The 16-year-old is yet to make his professional debut, but he is quickly gaining plaudits for his quality in the youth team. RTI Esporte reports that the Magpies have made a £21.5 million bid for the attacker, but it was quickly rejected by the Brazilian club.
Eddie Howe’s side are reportedly facing competition to land the teenager, with several Premier League clubs showing interest, with Arsenal previously making contact with Conceicao and his camp.
Newcastle continued development
There has been a shift in Newcastle’s transfer strategy in recent years, which has seen them invest in many talented youngsters to see how they do on Tyneside.
Martinez was the most recent, though he won’t move to England until he turns 18 in two years.
From players like Alex Murphy, who are still at the club, although not a lot of minutes, to Yankuba Minteh, who is now one of the Premier League’s most thrilling young forwards at Brighton.
They have even had high-level academy graduates such as Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson, who have both made dozens of league appearances at this stage.
The effects around PSR have affected Newcastle’s transfer ability over the last few years, with reports this week claiming that if the club didn’t sell their stadium to another company owned by their shareholders, they would have failed PSR.
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson revealed that the club still plans to achieve its 2030 strategy, and while buying talented youngsters won’t guarantee its goals are accomplished, it provides a helping hand.
Conceicao could well be the next in this long line, as the Black and Whites look to build a side with exciting, gifted individuals, though they will have to fight off interest for England’s elite.
Palmeiras quality and issues over Conceicao
Palmeiras has been the breeding ground of great South American footballers over the past decade.
Big names such as Gabriel Jesus, Richard Rios, Vitor Reis, Estevao, and Endrick have all been part of this club’s DNA.
Conceicao would well be the next of this illustrious academy, but there is one significant difference between him and the others named.
When Endrick moved to Real Madrid in a €47.5 million deal, there were question marks due to his age, although he had made 82 first-team appearances before he left.
He struggled in Madrid, but his loan spell at Lyon has been special, as he’s showcased his ability.
Conceicao hasn’t even made an appearance on the bench yet for the first team, and with the price tag in question, is it worth spending that much money on an unknown prospect?
The 16-year-old could well go on to have a fantastic career, but at this stage, I don’t think Newcastle would regret missing out on a move, as they would need assurance that he could be a deadly goalscorer for that fee.
