One of Newcastle’s winter priorities is adding another top youngster to the ranks in addition to Garang Kuol. There has been no shortage of talented wonderkids attracting the club’s attention either domestically or from afar.
Some budding stars to hit the headlines recently includes Leeds right-back Cody Drameh and Velez Sarsfield playmaker Maximo Perrone. However, there was a talented teenager Newcastle were tracking before all these recent links came to light.
Early last summer, there were extensive links to Braga starlet Roger Fernandes. Newcastle have rekindled their interest in the now 17-year-old according to the latest from Sport Witness.
In June, there were a number of reports claiming Newcastle were preparing an offer that could reach £16m for the exciting winger. Ajax had already had a bid of £12m knocked back by Braga.
Fernandes was coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he racked up 11 appearances with 3 goals. He became the youngest player to play in the Portuguese top flight after his debut in August of 2021.
After catching the eye in a cup match last October, his manager at the time, former Swansea boss Carlos Carvahal, said the following about Fernandes, who was 15 at the time:
“It was unbelievable. I know football. This is not normal.
“I asked him the next day, ‘Where did you learn this? Who taught you? This is a complex position.’ He told me that he watched all of Braga’s games and when he had been told that he would play as a left winger, he spent all that day watching videos of Galeno (the injured player he replaced).
“He had studied his movements in the offensive phase, defensive phase and the transition.
“Wow. At 15 years old, this was something special. The modern young player does not like to watch full games but this boy had done all that he could to learn this position.”
A change at the top has resulted in a change of fortunes for Fernandes. In May, Carvahal had his request to terminate his contract granted. In came Artur Jorge, who dropped Fernandes to the B team, which plays in the Portuguese third tier.
According to reports in Portugal, Newcastle are hoping the youngster’s demotion leads to a drop in Braga’s asking price. No fee is mentioned in the latest report but his exclusion from the first team could significantly impact his value to Newcastle’s benefit.
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103 comments so far
Munster Mag
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:52 PM
Comment #41What would an old cnut sitting on his deckchair reading his Daily Mail with his union jack towel, hearting his own posts, shouting at foreigners, know about anything?
Not a lot.
Mort
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:53 PM
Comment #42Raj is Jedi
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:54 PM
Comment #43I hadn’t realised the sending out on loan of Kuol was work permit related. I thought it was just to get him experience so thought we might as well keep him here for five months, it doesn’t sound as simple as that.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:55 PM
Comment #44Munster Mag,
No need to stoop to his level is there.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:00 PM
Comment #45Dr G
Fifa and the Olympic committee have been unmasked as corrupt for decades, mate.
Been many a docu down the years, highlighting how.
£u&£ knows how they’ve swerved a total clear out and reboot!?!
magicmac54
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:04 PM
Comment #46Afternoon Folks
I’m really enjoying this match, it’s much more exciting than that 1st match this morning, I must say I’m very impressed with South Korea they have to be one of the fittest if not the fittest teams in the tournament.
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:08 PM
Comment #47DrGloom, I agree the blame for corruption must lie at FIFAs door rather than countries that try to curry favour with officials. All potential host nations do things to try to sway officials to vote in their favour, it is just some take it to more extreme levels than others and since FIFA were not policing themselves properly the ones with the biggest and best bribes won. It is that simple.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:14 PM
Comment #48Magic South Korea are only fittest team because Toon aren’t there.
Rotonda heights
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:14 PM
Comment #49Mort
Don’t give up the day job. Oh wait…..
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:16 PM
Comment #50Jail, points make work permits. If he can play in a good European league he will get his points faster. He would not be ready for EPL over next 2-3 years, a good prospect though!
Mort
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:20 PM
Comment #51Rotonda Heights must be out on day release.
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:21 PM
Comment #52If kuol does get a work permit he should stay with us ..and not go on loan imo..
A bit like foden at citeh..
He was going nowhere..
Obviously may have to loan abroad to get said permit though..
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:22 PM
Comment #53Or as the pug says..
magicmac54
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:25 PM
Comment #54Sir Peter the Pug@48
Very true there young Peter 🙂 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:25 PM
Comment #55Regan,
I think the work permit is the issue from what they were saying on the telly.
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:26 PM
Comment #56Jail..
As Peter said in his post..
Can he gain a permit playing abroad on loan..
Not sure on the rules to be honest..
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:29 PM
Comment #57Raj, yeah the work permit business is a minefield, I have posted extensively on this in the past. Kuol needs to go to a band 1 (Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1) or band 2 league (Portuguese Primeira Liga, Eredivisie, Belgian First Division A, Turkish Super Lig) and play regularly to start building points up. I am sure NUFC have a plan for this but there are no guarantees as no suitable club will sign up to guarantee him a starting place irrespective of form.
Taiwo Awoniyi, currently at Forest was original bough by Liverpool as kid and was loaned out to German, Dutch and Belgian teams, he didn’t qualify for a work permit to play in England for about 5 years.
Romford mag
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:30 PM
Comment #58https://www.google.com/amp/s/worldfootballindex.com/2020/12/work-permits-premier-league-post-brexit-english-clubs-efl-libertadores/amp/
Romford mag
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Comment #59Stub that I think it’s for South Americans
Romford mag
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Comment #60Scrub*
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:33 PM
Comment #61That pretty much sums it up then taco..
Good thing though he’ll be ready for when he gets here..
Good things to those that wait and all that..
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:36 PM
Comment #62Regan,
Aye, sounds like they plonk him in a counyltry that will allow a permit and providing he knuckles down and makes so many appearances then he gets his permit. Not sure why he can’t apply for a backpackers one line all the other young antipodeans.
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:37 PM
Comment #63Rom, the link you posted is correct. It does mention that the new rules make it easier for South Americans (as the South American leagues are rated better than they used to be) the the rules in that link apply to everyone.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:38 PM
Comment #64Yay, let’s vote breakfast to keep the foreigners out 😕
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:39 PM
Comment #65Exactly jail..
Would definitely prefer Eddie Howe nurturing him than than some random..
Hopefully works out for the best as I’m sure the top brass know what they’re doing..
Romford mag
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:40 PM
Comment #66Unscrub that , it is correct after all! 😀
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:41 PM
Comment #67I am sure I asked the when Lpool went up for sale, but do people think the Man Utd sale might actually help us, at least in the short term? Will the current owners want to invest in Jan for example?
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:45 PM
Comment #68I hope whoever buys them.. buys them with debt.. like the glazers..
£5b. 😆
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:47 PM
Comment #69Afternoon folks. Spent a couple of days away on a golf trip. Guess there’s been no Toon related news the last few days? Just the usual random chat and petty arguments on here? 😉
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:50 PM
Comment #70Taco..
Personally I think they’ll use as many transfer windows as possible to get us up there challenging..
One.. maybe two at a time..
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:51 PM
Comment #71The Glaziers and FSG are just running scared that Howe has managed to spend 200 million and have a team properly competing with them! Wait until we get sponsorships and can actually buy more players we could leave them well behind quickly haha
Liverpool especially has a huge rebuild coming up they need a whole new midfield and also Van Dijk and Salah are not getting any younger either! Their head of recruitment has just announced he is leaving so something is going on in the background there
CLINT FLICK
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:51 PM
Comment #72Taco
So long as it screws both of them!
…oh! And the ‘new’ SD at lfc has quit, already.
All is not well…in denmark!
:E
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:51 PM
Comment #73No petty arguments TDSarf.
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:52 PM
Comment #74Regan, some of their fans have it in their head that Apple are going to buy them cos the Daily Star said they might. To think people say toon fans are deluded.
🙂
CLINT FLICK
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:53 PM
Comment #75Let’s see if we can fire one up, huh?
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:53 PM
Comment #76I don’t think either are up for sale, it’s a diversion tactic to simmer the fans down, Mikey used it for fourteen years
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:55 PM
Comment #77Regan, I meant Man Utd current owners not ours. Will they invest significantly in Jan if their goal is to sell the club? same applies to Liverpool.
magicmac54
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:55 PM
Comment #78That`s an excellent South Korean team, so very fit but also very well organised and hard to break down, not to mention some fine players, they will give anyone a game in that group for sure. Also has anyone noticed their keeper looks real quality.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:57 PM
Comment #79Raj
Could be!
Another month or so of off season consternation wouod be helpful to our cause, hey?
Regan
Nov 24, 2022 at 2:57 PM
Comment #80While we sit back with a smile as wide as the Tyne bridge taco..
Love it..