‘Special’ player who Newcastle wanted in January is now set for £35m transfer elsewhere

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Newcastle United often go back in for targets they failed to sign in previous transfer windows, but that is not happening on this occasion.

Since the change of ownership, the Magpies have not been afraid to revisit transfer targets. Newcastle United bided their time and waited to sign Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon, and those decisions have paid off.

The club clearly felt that Botman and Gordon were worth the wait, and that has proven to be the case.

Newcastle wanted to loan ‘special’ player in January

However, it has been a different story for Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal.

He was linked with joining Eddie Howe’s side in January, with Newcastle interested in loaning Smith Rowe at the start of the year.

In the end, Arsenal opted against letting Smith Rowe leave, thus ending Newcastle’s pursuit of a player who has been described as ‘special‘ by Jamie Carragher.

The 23-year-old felt like a player who the Magpies could revisit in the summer, but there has been no talk of fresh interest in Joe Willock’s former teammate.

Smith Rowe now heading elsewhere

Now Smith Rowe is on the move, with one of Newcastle’s Premier League rivals closing in on a deal to sign the playmaker.

According to the Athletic, Fulham are close to agreeing a deal with Arsenal to sign Smith Rowe.

They report that the transfer could be worth £35million, after Marco Silva’s side had a £30million bid rejected earlier in the summer.

Newcastle United have other priorities

Smith Rowe will hope to breathe new life into his career at Fulham, after seeing his progress stall in an Arsenal shirt.

He is still a player with a lot of potential, and there was previously hope that he could realise that potential in the black and white of Newcastle United.

But it is Fulham who are set to sign Smith Rowe, with Newcastle’s priorities lying elsewhere.

The Magpies are currently focussed on signing a defender, with Malick Thiaw seen as Newcastle’s top target. He could cost up to £35million, although Paul Mitchell is hoping to pay nearer £25million.

After that, Newcastle will shift their attention to signing a right winger. It has been reported that Newcastle have bid for Nico Gonzalez, who is a left-footed right winger who plays for Fiorentina. He would be an exciting addition, with Gonzalez compared to Man City’s Bernardo Silva.

Gonzalez is a very different player to Smith Rowe, who prefers to operate off the left or as an attacking midfielder. That is not what Newcastle are looking for, so it is no surprise that he has not been on Howe’s radar.