Newcastle United is accelerating its transfer business entering the final week of the summer window, with Matthias Jaissle still hoping to add multiple players following a turbulent rebuild at St. James’ Park.
With Newcastle now having reached an agreement for No. 1 target and Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez, the club has turned its attention toward strengthening the attack.
According to L’Équipe’s Loïc Tanzi, Newcastle has entered formal negotiations with Lille for Belgium international Matias
Fernandez-Pardo and submitted a substantial opening offer for the winger.
“An offer of around €40 million, excluding bonuses, has landed on LOSC’s desk,” Tanzi reported. “Matias Fernandez-Pardo, for his part, remains steadfast: he wants to leave LOSC despite the prospect of playing in the Champions League.”
That offer roughly equates to £34 million before add-ons and represents a concrete attempt to prise the 21-year-old away from Lille. Tanzi reported that Newcastle possesses considerably greater financial resources than fellow suitor Atlético Madrid and could therefore make an offer significant enough to test Lille’s determination to keep Fernandez-Pardo.
The problem, however, is Lille’s ridiculous valuation of their player. According to TEAMtalk, the French club has set a humongous €70 million (£60 million) asking price for the forward, leaving the Magpies’ offer a sizable €30 million short of meeting that figure.
The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards doubled down on Newcastle’s interest and acknowledged the Magpies have discussed signing the winger, but he already cautioned that expectations of completing the transfer currently remain low, which might have to do with that asking price.
“Newcastle United have an interest in Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo and have discussed signing the player,” Edwards reported. “But expectations are low it can be agreed after reports of an offer revealed by [L’Équipe’s Loïc Tanzi].”
The player’s stance on his future, however, should help Newcastle. Despite Lille qualifying for the Champions League and Newcastle only participating in domestic competitions this season, Fernandez-Pardo has made his desire to leave clear before the Sept. 1 deadline.
Lille president Olivier Letang is nevertheless resisting the sale of the youngster, particularly without securing a replacement first with a week left in the transfer window. Fernandez-Pardo remains under contract through 2029, leaving Lille under little contractual pressure to accept Newcastle’s proposal.
Fernandez-Pardo enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season, scoring eight goals and adding five assists across 27 Ligue 1 starts as Lille finished third. Primarily a winger but capable of operating across the attack, Fernandez-Pardo also broke into Belgium’s senior national team and appeared at this summer’s World Cup.
Would you increase the offer for Fernandez-Pardo, or should Newcastle use those funds to target a more experienced attacker, or someone closer to joining than the LOSC forward? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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