Newcastle United need to make some quality additions to their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut. Right now, the focus seems to be on midfield, following the departures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
But at the same time, there are other areas which could do with improvements as well. That rings true going forward, where Newcastle United have lost a ton of quality.
Alexander Isak left last summer. Anthony Gordon did the same this time around. They have not been able to replace that quality yet. But they seem to have set their eyes on a Belgian international, with the ability to play both as a centre-forward and a winger.
Newcastle United submit offer for Belgian international
According to L’Equipe, Newcastle United have entered into formal negotiations to sign Matias Fernandez-Pardo. An offer of around €40 million, excluding bonuses, has arrived on Lille’s table.
Fernandez-Pardo, for his part, remains steadfast. The Belgian international wants to leave Lille despite the prospect of playing in the Champions League.
Of course, that is good news for Newcastle United and their hopes of signing the forward. They have struggled in recent times to convince players to join them.
It remains to be seen if they can convince Fernandez-Pardo to make the move to St James’ Park. It is worth mentioning that Atletico Madrid are also believed to be interested in the Belgian international.
Who is Matias Fernandez-Pardo?
Fernandez-Pardo is 21 years of age. Newcastle United have signed players in their early 20s all summer. So, that is something that is clearly a priority for the club right now.
At the same time though, Fernandez-Pardo seems to be further along in his career than most of the signings Newcastle United have made so far. He has made five senior appearances for Belgium already.
At club level, the forward has played 71 times for Lille. Before that, he made 28 appearances for Gent. So, he does have a decent bit of experience under his belt.
Fernandez-Pardo is a versatile player. He can play both as a number 9 and on the left flank as a winger. That should help a club like Newcastle United, who need to strengthen in both those positions.
Now, it remains to be seen if they can get a deal done or not. With very little time left in the summer transfer window, they will need to move quickly or move on swiftly. There is no point allowing things to drag on.
