Newcastle United reportedly want to sign Andrey Santos in January – but it looks like Dan Ashworth is set for disappointment.
This January transfer window is going to be very different to the last for Newcastle. The 2022 window was crazy, as Eddie Howe looked to bring in the players he needed to achieve Premier League survival.
He managed to do just that, and also got a star for the future as well as the present in Bruno Guimaraes.
But it was a frantic month that saw plenty of targets come and go, with the Toon rumour mill going into overdrive.
In contrast, January 2023 should be a lot calmer. Newcastle are less desperate for reinforcements, while it has been reported that the owners do not intend to splash the cash as lavishly as they have previously.
However, there is still talk of new arrivals, with Howe keen to bring in three players. According to the Athletic, he would like a young right-back, a midfielder and a wide forward.
We have seen plenty of names linked for each position, from the young and promising to the already established. It has been reported that James Maddison is Newcastle’s number one target, but we believe Andrey Santos would be the dream addition.
Forget James Maddison, Andrey Santos is the player Newcastle need
Maddison has been heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park. He was a target during the summer, with Newcastle making two bids for the Leicester star.
But they were both rejected, with the Foxes holding out for £60million. That fee forced Ashworth to walk away, but now the club are looking at a fresh move in January.
However, considering how well Maddison has played this season, there is no way that Leicester are going to drop their asking price. That means Newcastle are going to have to pay a fee similar to the one they spent on Alexander Isak during the summer transfer window.
Therefore, a deal for the 26-year-old feels incredibly unlikely. That is why Newcastle should focus on the future, but it now looks like a move for Andrey Santos is off the table too.
Newcastle will regret not signing Santos
He is an 18-year-old midfielder, and a young man with an incredibly bright future. That’s what former Brazil international Juninho Pernambucano thinks. He believes Santos is a ‘more complete player‘ than he ever was, which is a big claim from the set piece expert.
As far as idols go, the youngster is a big fan of Bruno Guimaraes. He recently called the Toon superstar ‘phenomenal‘ during an interview. And they would soon be teammates if United got their wish.
Santos has been linked with Newcastle for a few months now. He first emerged shortly after the summer transfer window, and there have even been claims that the Magpies were confident of a deal.
But now he is on his way to Chelsea. They will reportedly pay an initial £12million, with the deal possibly rising to £20million. He has agreed a five-year deal, with Newcastle missing out on the teenage sensation.
That means talk of a move to Newcastle is pretty much over. All that is missing is official confirmation of his move to Chelsea.
It is a devastating blow for Ashworth. Santos should have been the one player who Newcastle pursued relentlessly heading into January – he should have been our top target over Maddison. But now we are set to miss out.
If he had thrived in black and white, he could still have been here in 15 years’ time. It’s the kind of signing Ashworth loves, and we have already seen one example of it with Garang Kuol set to join in January.
When it comes to January, Newcastle should be thinking long-term rather than short-term. That is a luxury they have now that they did not have at the start of the year.
And that is why Santos should have been the one player we must sign next month. But a deal is nigh on impossible now thanks to Chelsea swooping in.
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