Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has given an interesting interview with Wettfreunde, a German-based betting tips outlet. One of the many topics raised was Newcastle’s summer plans.
Romano first confirmed that Nick Pope was practically a done deal. The goalkeeper is expected to wrap up his £10m move today with a medical set and personal terms hashed out.
His information on Hugo Ekitike mirrors what Luke Edwards reported earlier in the week. An agreement with Reims has been reached. However, there are still issues with agents’ fees and Ekitike has yet to green light the move.
As the outlet is based in Germany, the reported interest in Dortmund winger Thorgen Hazard was raised. The 29-year-old was linked with Newcastle earlier this week with an asking price of just £12m.
Romano believes the Belgian is on Eddie Howe’s list of targets. However, he doesn’t think anything is close saying:
“Thorgan Hazard is one of the options they have on their list. But so far it’s not a thing that’s going to happen anytime soon, nor is it far advanced.
“I’m sure Newcastle will take their time.”
Finally, Romano added this little nugget of information on Leeds winger Raphinha, who is strongly linked with Barcelona with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Spurs now circling.
“And I can tell you one thing. Newcastle are among the clubs that could make an effort to sign Raphinha.
You are very ambitious in the market. Raphinha is one of those players they dream about. You also dreamed of Darwin Nunez.
But they knew it was going to be impossible once Liverpool jumped on the deal. But it shows Newcastle are trying to find players with such skill. A top player who could come to Newcastle. But I think it would be more than difficult for Raphinha as there are other clubs in the running.”
The Brazilian is likely a bridge too far at this stage in Newcastle’s rebuild. He’ll cost north of £50m with some serious competition for his signature. Newcastle are likely a distant proposition for the 25-year-old.
The Mail’s Craig Hope has backed Romano’s claims this morning. Like Romano, he sees the competition and cost as major obstacles.
Re Newcastle & Raphinha… they like him & they have watched him (inc. final day at Brentford). I get the impression they would love to sign him. But cost/competition likely to prove prohibitive. #nufc #lufc
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) June 23, 2022
64 comments so far
Adamn_92
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:33 AM
Comment #41If Ekitike truly wants to join, he can tell his agent to do one. If an agent talked his way out of me joining a team by demanding too much, i’d tell him to sling his hook.
Still, it’s what to believe and what not to believe. So i’ll wait until there’s some form of confirmation either way.
WorflagsBlog
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:34 AM
Comment #42Hi all,
A new article on Nathan Ake as a botman alternative contingency plan and the breakdown if anyone is interested
Would love to know your thoughts!
nunewcastlefc.com/?p=447
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:34 AM
Comment #43Dubs has his best shot at CL football with us as a back up keeper.
Adamn_92
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:34 AM
Comment #44I’d also pay less and less attention to Romano. Seems to be a guesser just as much as everyone else, just with more followers.
Mund
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:36 AM
Comment #45But wait Adam followers mean everything…. 😆
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:42 AM
Comment #46While disappointed that we’ve not been able to get Ekitike over the line, it’s not for lack of agreement with either club or player. Personally, I’m in favour of not being mucked about and being seen to be willing to walk away from deals if we feel we’re being played. There may be life left in this deal, we’ve made our move, now we wait and see how Ekitike, or indeed other interested clubs, respond.
niafron
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:42 AM
Comment #47Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs!
Rafinha is ” A bridge too far”.
Like this movie…
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:42 AM
Comment #48Adamn_92,
Followers don’t mean everything, however someone with 8.8M and is often bang on the money is a lot more credible than someone with 300 and is constantly relaying duff info that he’s ‘been told’
Adamn_92
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:43 AM
Comment #49Mund
I used to give Romano more credibility as he was well respected and had a lot of followers. But that ship has sailed now as he never seems to have any sort of exclusive, just posts guesswork, posts about a transfer story already talked about in multiple other places or reports a medical or done deal when it’s been reported elsewhere that it’s already a done deal or medical taking place.
Re-hashes transfer news like everyone else or makes a guess. Can’t think of anyone who’s actually reliable for news anymore?
Adamn_92
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:45 AM
Comment #50Raj
Agreed, but he’s only ever bang on the money when it’s already been reported elsewhere. He’s gets just as much wrong if you ask me but nobody really calls him up on it because he’s seen as a more reliable one.
He’s not as bad as the self stated ITK people, but he guesses just as much as he actually knows.
In my opinion of course.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Comment #51I dunno, I’ve found that while Romano is hit-and-miss sometimes, he clearly does have an inside track on some of his news stories as he does ‘break’ numerous news items himself while re-hashing others. He’s certainly one of the more reliable sources of info out there but that doesn’t make him infallible of course.
onmeedsun
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Comment #52I think it’s disrespectful to Dubs to have a poll on whether he or Pope will be starting as our number 1 keeper. Pope not even signed and in any event it should be based on how they shape up pre season.
onmeedsun
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:49 AM
Comment #53And if agents are messing us about, then walk away. The player may then sort out his agent. There are plenty of good players out there who we can afford, in terms of transfer fees and wages.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:50 AM
Comment #54Dazzler, you have a selective memory. Dubs had one major pre-season injury playing for Slovakia. And being injured is part of top level sport, that is why you do not have 11 players but 26. Getting injured is not letting your team down. Getting sent off for an idiotic foul and missing the next 3 games is letting your team down.
Rant over ::-)
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:50 AM
Comment #55Onmeedsun
I have a different view in that it’s not abundantly clear who would/should be the starting GK for Newcastle United in the event Pope signs (medical currently underway) so a poll is a good way to gauge fan opinion on the matter.
In any case, a poll isn’t going to make Howe’s mind up as to who will be No 1, he’s more than capable of doing that himself, and I’m sure both will be given ample opportunity to impress.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:50 AM
Comment #56Adamn_92,
Someone made an excellent point recently about it being very tough for journalists these days due to social media.
Adamn_92
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:51 AM
Comment #57Romano is usually bang on the money because he waits for something to be confirmed and then reports it. It’s easy to be bang on the money when you’re reporting something that’s already been reported or happened.
I could tell you the lottery numbers after the lottery numbers have been announced haha
Anyway it isn’t a big deal i’m trying to make out, just think he isn’t always as reliable as people think and rarely reports something that hasn’t already been reported. I don’t mind if people find him more reliable and not trying to change anyones views on him. Just my 2 cents worth.
Mund
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:51 AM
Comment #58Adam
Exactly and Romano is like all the others but one difference, he has a lot more contacts so will get a lot more right. Since following him I’ve noticed he, like you say, only tweets out when the news has been broke elsewhere and tries to steal their thunder.
He steals a lot of breaking news.
Followers don’t mean a thing as something shared can be from someone who has only a few followers but will be bang on the money. It’s certainly no indication of credibility unless they always get things spot on which is never the case
Adamn_92
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:52 AM
Comment #59Raj
Social media has definitely made what to believe in the transfer world more tricky that’s for sure.
Mund
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:52 AM
Comment #60Adam
You are spot on.
You’ve nailed it
Mund
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:53 AM
Comment #61Take us back to the days of teletext 😆
Tbh journalists make their own beds and cause most the problems
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:54 AM
Comment #62Palindrome and Cyberman, do we actually want players who will take us if they cannot find anywhere better? For me, as Talking Heads once sang ” run, run, run away”.
If you are a little bit bored today, look up the song and tell me why I used it as music during my knee rehabilitation with my Physiopath (correct spelling)
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:55 AM
Comment #63cricket on
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 23, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Comment #64A well respected journalist with reliable tweets/info tends to get more followers than one that is unreliable and doesn’t get a lot right. I would bet Caulkin has five times as many as Edwards.