Newcastle United
Premier League • England
Newcastle open negotiations with club and agent ahead of midfield signing that could cost up to £12m
Newcastle United are holding talks over the potential signing of Argentine midfielder Maximo Perrone, according to reports.
Perrone will be turning 20 in January and it could also be the month he makes the first transfer of his career. After progressing through the ranks with Velez Sarsfield, he has caught the eyes of Newcastle United.
There have been a few claims in recent days about the Magpies making a move for him. Newcastle are eager to strengthen for the future, having already lined up the signing of Garang Kuol for January in another example.
Perrone is someone else they have been looking closely at and it now appears they are ready to make their move.
According to Diario Popular, Newcastle are in discussions with their counterparts at Velez Sarsfield, as well as Perrone’s agent.
Velez are holding out for a payment of €14million if they are to sell Perrone, which would equate to around £12.2million.
Newcastle can clearly afford that sum, although they have been learning over the past year or so how to decide which targets are worth it. In this case, they seem willing to pay up.
It might not be to the exact amount of €14million. Elsewhere, Ole has reported that they are prepared to offer between €12million and €13million.
That would be somewhere between £10.5million and £11.4million, roughly.
Interestingly, it is above Perrone’s release clause of €9million (around £7.9million). However, Velez have been persuasive enough to hold out for a higher fee, per Diario Popular.
Perrone’s representatives have agreed with his current employers that he will be allowed to move on if a decent offer arrives. His contract with Velez is only due to run until December 2023.
Newcastle now seem to be getting closer to prising him away before then.
Newcastle plans for Maximo Perrone after arrival still unclear
Perrone, who is left footed and likes to play as a holding midfielder, has made 33 appearances for Velez Sarsfield to date, all coming in 2022. He has scored three goals and added two assists.
He may get the chance to test himself in the Premier League fairly soon.
Only time will tell what plans Eddie Howe might have for him. It might be beneficial for him to develop elsewhere on loan initially.
Indeed, it will be a big transition for him to deal with. Newcastle have been doing well this season, going into the World Cup break third in the Premier League. Thus, it may be hard to compete for a regular role at first.
But playing in the Argentine top tier is no small accomplishment in itself. Therefore, Perrone might even be ready to compete for a first-team place at St James’ Park.
Newcastle’s midfield currently consists of the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Jonjo Shelvey.