Newcastle linked with Ansu Fati four years after trying to sign him on a free

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Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Ansu Fati from Barcelona, four years after he was first linked with the Magpies.

The future of Ansu Fati at Barcelona appears to be unclear, with the youngster’s father telling him to leave the Catalan giants.

His comments have led to speculation that the 20-year-old will be sold by Barca this summer. Spanish outlet Sport claim that he is expected to leave, with agent Jorge Mendes sounding out Premier League clubs over a possible move.

The report claims that Newcastle were one of the clubs that were contacted, with the Magpies listening ‘carefully’ to the prospect of bringing Fati to St James’ Park.

The winger could be available for around £30million, but Newcastle were actually linked with signing him for a fraction of that price back in 2019.

Newcastle wanted Ansu Fati when he was just 16-years-old

The Daily Record reported in June 2019 that both Newcastle and Manchester United had approached Fati about a move to England.

He was just 16 at the time, with his Barcelona contract due to expire. The youngster was turning heads with his performances for the Barca youth side, but was not happy with the terms that they were offering him.

That created an opportunity for Newcastle to sign Fati for a nominal fee. While he was out of contract, Barcelona would have been due compensation due to the player’s age.

Regardless, landing such a highly rated talent for virtually nothing would have been a real coup for the Magpies, at a time when the club was in chaos.

Takeover uncertainty reigned supreme, while Rafa Benitez was set to leave his job as manager. He was then replaced by Steve Bruce, who produced an absolutely rotten brand of football at a time when Toon fans already felt disassociated with the club due to Mike Ashley’s ownership.

Newcastle have since moved on, and are flying high under their new owners and Eddie Howe. Moving to Tyneside would be a much more attractive prospect for Fati, whose career has stalled after an electric start to life as a Barcelona player.

He was given Lionel Messi’s number 10 shirt, who had previously described Fati as an ‘amazing player‘. However, he has been hindered by injury, and is now struggling for minutes.

It could lead to a move away, with Newcastle potentially in the mix to sign him – just like they were in 2019.