web analytics





The Time Is Right For Newcastle To Sign This Top-Class Lille Midfielder



Of all the players Newcastle have been linked since our top-flight return, we have been most impressed with LOSC Lille’s 22-year-old defensive midfielder Thiago Maia.

We are almost certain that link will be one that comes around again this summer.

There were reports late last summer that Newcastle had put an ambitious bid in to bring Thiago to Tyneside.  This was after a summer of speculation of Newcastle’s customary “loan with an option to buy” deals that the Newcastle board are so enamored of.

None of these deals materialized and Newcastle had another lackluster transfer window.  Then came reports out of Italy in January that Roma wanted to add Maia to their ranks.

And wouldn’t you believe it, it was a loan with an option to buy.  But this was only for €10M.

Lille’s impressive defensive midfielder Thiago Maia

These reports were dispelled by the player’s agent but what is interesting with the link is the price.  The reason for the drop in the player’s speculative value may have been his inability to hold down a first-team place at Lille.

Thiago Maia has only started 9 games in Ligue 1 for the northern French club and only one in other competitions.

He has made a total only 24 appearances in all competitions with many of those as a late substitute.  We are not talking about a season hampered by injury either.

This is after Maia made 28 starts in 34 appearances the season before.  So the time is ripe to go after this Brazilian defensive midfielder.

With the possibility of Hayden, Shelvey, and Diame leaving, it seems the perfect time to get Thiago to Tyneside for a bargain price.

Rafa appears to rate the player highly and we know he has the class.  Imagine a Maia and Longstaff midfield partnership for years to come.

We don’t know what will happen or the reasons behind Maia’s lack of minutes on the pitch for Lille.  What we do know is that we need to get players like Maia to Newcastle.

How Will Newcastle Fare At Fulham?

View Results
Loading ... Loading ...

8 comments so far

  • ronaldo aarons

    May 10, 2019 at 10:42 AM

    Comment #1

    Talk of Perez leaving is nothing new and not just because he’s scored a few goals. Back when he was abused and booed quite loudly, rumours were surfacing that this could be his last year.

    1
  • ronaldo aarons

    May 10, 2019 at 10:43 AM

    Comment #2

    1st and 2nd btw 😀

    1
  • Jib

    May 10, 2019 at 10:43 AM

    Comment #3

    You can tell when Neil writes it
    enamored (enamoured) lackluster (lacklustre)
    😛

    3
  • ronaldo aarons

    May 10, 2019 at 10:43 AM

    Comment #4

    How you like me now beermonkey?

    1
  • RobLeenio

    May 10, 2019 at 10:43 AM

    Comment #5

    We’ll be needing at least a couple of midfielders in this season. We could end up losing Shelvey as well as Diame and Hayden.

    If Maia is available then he seems a good option, though I’m not familiar with the reasons why he’s not played so much. I bet Rafa knows…

    0
  • bettyswallocks

    May 10, 2019 at 10:47 AM

    Comment #6

    I notice that Minster is conspicuous by his absence this morning. He may well be busy which would excuse it , but it seems to me that he was indeed stimulated by something ( legal or otherwise) yesterday evening to allow his true feelings to cascade out on to a blog full of mainly genuine NUFC supporters. How he could possibly align himself with Ashley’s despicable money grabbing antics and then try and conveniently dismiss it as a wind up is beyond me.

    3
  • Jib

    May 10, 2019 at 10:57 AM

    Comment #7

    betty
    I know you ain’t the brightest button in the box
    but the wind up was quite evident to those with
    the wit to see it.

    5
  • bettyswallocks

    May 10, 2019 at 11:00 AM

    Comment #8

    Jib………I just read the article you posted about Ashley’s failed attempt to acquire Debenhams. It appears he has been played at his own game and lost.
    Society in general has woken up to the fact that fat Mike Ashley is an opportunistic profiteering leech who cares for nobody but himself and in his unsubtle bombastic way has managed to alienate most decent honourable people.
    Over to you Munster!

    6


You must log in to post a comment.