Report: Newcastle will make an offer for 25-year-old winger, he’s been linked with Arsenal

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Correio da Manha has reported that Newcastle will make an offer for Pepe of Porto today.

The Brazilian winger has already been linked with Arsenal this summer, with A Bola reporting that the Gunners were keen on him back in May.

Pepe’s release clause is currently £51 million with the Portuguese side, which was a problem for Arsenal. The same Correio de Manha report claims the Magpies will be offering less than that.

The Toon are looking to bolster their options when it comes to wingers. They were willing to pay £34 million for Moussa Diaby, but Bayern Leverkusen want more for him. So it’s clear that Eddie Howe is looking for a Diaby alternative if they can’t secure him.

Newcastle need at least one more winger, but they shouldn’t overspend

Since PIF took charge of the Magpies they’ve been able to spend their money very intelligently. The fees for both Matt Targett and Nick Pope this summer are examples of their phenomenal business.

Pepe has had a pretty good season with Porto netting six times and assisting six times. But he’s not established himself as a starter just yet.

Paying Pepe’s release clause wouldn’t be good value for money. The fee doesn’t justify the output he’s provided, just yet. If it’s true that Newcastle will make an offer for Pepe, it should be much less than the £51 million release clause.

This is because there are other options for the Toon to explore. For example, Maxwell Cornet has a £17.5 million release clause following Burnley’s relegation. He’s proven at Premier League level and would come at a much cheaper price, making him an appealing Diaby alternative.

Thorgan Hazard is another option the Maggies have been exploring. He’s on their list and could be another alternative who would be cheaper than Pepe. However, a potential deal for the Belgian is far from advancing, so if it were to happen it would take some time.

Should Newcastle land Pepe at a lower price than his release clause, then it’s worth a punt. However, much like Arsenal, they should avoid the £51 million fee, it would be way too much.