Newcastle United are being linked with signing Alan Varela this month, and it looks like Boca Juniors have named their asking price.
It was reported in Argentina earlier this week that the Magpies could make a £15million move for the 21-year-old.
Varela is the latest South American midfielder to be linked with a move to St James’ Park, following rumours surrounding Andrey Santos and Maximo Perrrone.
But they are set to join Chelsea and Manchester City respectively, forcing Newcastle to look elsewhere. That could be why Varela is now a target, and he could be an affordable alternative for Sporting Director Dan Ashworth.
How much Alan Varela will cost
According to Marca in Argentina, they believe that Newcastle could be willing to offer almost £16million to sign the youngster.
And they could be in luck with that figure. The report adds that Boca would be willing to sell him for that amount.
If these reports are to be believed, it sounds like Newcastle could be on to a winner here after the disappointment of Santos and Perrone.
Marca’s report adds that the Magpies even have a plan in place should they be able to complete a deal for Varela. They state that he could be loaned straight back to Boca before linking up with Eddie Howe’s team in the summer.
That is reportedly something Newcastle could also look to do with Ivan Fresneda, who is another player that Ashworth is trying to sign during the January transfer window.
The club are making moves to build for the future, which is a smart decision. That isn’t a surprise, however, as smart decisions have become the norm since the change of ownership.
With Newcastle looking to qualify for the Champions League, there was speculation that the owners could back Eddie Howe in a big way in January to help his side stay in the top four. But that does not appear to be the plan, as the club continue to focus on steady and sustainable progression.
That is the right thing to do, and they will be getting a player for the future if they bring Alan Varela to St James’ Park. The young Argentine could be an enforcer in front of the defence in the coming years, if he can translate his tough tacking style from his homeland to the Premier League.
At £16million, Varela is very affordable. And a deal will be much more palatable for Boca if they are allowed to keep him on loan for six months.
It sounds like an ideal situation for all parties involved, but only time will tell if this deal comes to fruition.
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