Newcastle United has entered the final four days of the transfer window determined to complete at least another significant transfer after agreeing to a £48 million (€55.5 million) deal with Man City for midfielder Nico Gonzalez.
Matthias Jaissle wants at least one attacker, and Newcastle is simultaneously working on several possibilities. However, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has now provided the clearest indication of who sits at the top of that list — and why the Magpies believe a deal could still
be possible.
“The primary target is Fernandez-Pardo, who Newcastle have been aggressive in pitching their project to,” Waugh reported.
Interestingly, Waugh revealed that Newcastle had effectively written off its chances of signing the 21-year-old after failing to qualify for European competition, but that stance seems to have changed after receiving encouragement over Fernandez-Pardo’s willingness to move to St. James’ Park.
“They have subsequently felt enough encouragement that the athletic and adaptable winger-cum-forward would still be willing to join that they have re-entered the race,” Waugh reported.
The timing is particularly significant after Lille manager Davide Ancelotti publicly confirmed Thursday that Fernandez-Pardo has been removed from first-team training while his future is resolved.
“I have decided, in consultation with the club, that he will no longer train with the squad until the end of the transfer window,” Ancelotti said. “I am focusing on the players who are available for tomorrow’s match and who are training with us.”
The obstacle remains Lille’s valuation, quoted at around €70 million (£60 million) for the 21-year-old after Newcastle submitted a final €60 million (£51.5 million) offer for Fernandez-Pardo on Tuesday. Waugh confirmed that Newcastle is unwilling to meet the French club’s current asking price, while some figures on Tyneside remain pessimistic that an agreement will ultimately be reached.
Enter Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss, who remains an alternative. Waugh clarified that Newcastle is not necessarily in active negotiations for the Bundesliga midfielder yet, however, as the Magpies are sorting a small number of undisclosed alternatives to Martinez-Pardo and don’t intend to panic-buy if any of the preferred options prove unattainable.
For now, though, Fernandez-Pardo is clearly the priority. Newcastle has received enough encouragement from the player to revive a pursuit it once considered unrealistic, and Ancelotti’s decision has increased the pressure on Lille to find a solution before Tuesday.
Do you think Newcastle should meet Lille’s demands for Fernandez-Pardo, or walk away if the price remains too high? Let us know in the comments.
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