Newcastle have been linked with a plethora of talented youngsters over the past few months. The majority of them hail from talent-rich Brazil. Yet another name has emerged as a potential target in Flamengo teenager Matheus Franca.
Brazilian outlet TNT Sports has named the Magpies along with Crystal Palace and Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen as the lead chasers for the versatile youngster. Franca can play in the midfield, on either wing, or as a center-forward though is primarily a playmaker.
Franca made 23 appearances last term for Flamengo scoring 6 goals. While he made a few appearances last season, he became a regular in the first team in September making 13 consecutive league appearances.
Franca’s name has hit the headlines as an emerging talent for a few years now. The 18-year-old was heavily linked with Real Madrid last year while Manchester City’s interest has also been reported.
Flamengo were quick to tie their prized asset down once top clubs began circling. He signed his current contract, which has a release clause that exceeds £80m, when he turned 17.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday that negotiations from two unnamed Premier League clubs have begun but are not yet advanced. The fee being discussed is in the £15-20m range.
Newcastle are also reported to be in discussions for Vasco da Gama’s Andrey Santos and Velez Sarsfield’s Maximo Perrone. They are both deep-lying midfielders while Franca is more of attacking player.
Hopefully, a breakthrough can be found for at least one of these talented youngsters can be reached before the winter window opens. Newcastle have already added young Australian Garang Kuol for January.
Kuol starts on the bench today as Australia takes on Tunisia in a critical Group D battle. The Aussies lost to France in their opening match while Tunisia battled Denmark to a surprising scoreless draw.
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107 comments so far
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:22 AM
Comment #41Well Munster you thought wrong. Just as it’s anyone’s right to whinge about the team it is my right to try and defend them.
Munster Mag
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:25 AM
Comment #42Catchy I’d agree with that at 38. I remember watching us play Fat Sam’s Everton. The two styles were identical. But people didn’t like the uncomfortable (but accurate) comparison.
Davas
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:32 AM
Comment #43Catchy
I’m really not bothered about getting in a Rafa debate but 1 stat doesn’t prove a point. (Also it was 3 times according to that link). They were also in the top 2 to 4 in the amount of passes they made but, again, that doesn’t prove anything.
I was going by what I saw as better football once we got Miggy plus rondon getting fit. We started playing decent football IMO.
niafron
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #44The is more alive now… Australia had a great chance to kill it, but after that Tunisia created two good chances.
catchy in norway
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #45Munster.
The term cognitive dissonance fits so well with these people, they have a believe that ” if only he had been backed” then it would have been different, these people do not believe their own eyes, these people wanted to believe the hype from media pundits (FRIENDS), folks like Jail or Davas will never admit they were ever wrong.
Fenham to Chalfont
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Comment #46“””Davas
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:05 AM
Comment #31
Not sure why Rafa is brought up when discussing an England game but I’m pretty sure if he’d had players of that quality at Newcastle then we would have seen much better football then.”””
That was exactly my point. I brought Rafa into the equation as watching England last night was like watching a Rafa team full of championship level players play against a top 8 EPL team. As in my post I loved Rafa as he gave us hope but had to deploy boring tactics at times to grind out a bore draw. It resembled last night and England. However, why would Southgate deploy such a negative system with all them players at his disposal? I found it strange.
Fenham to Chalfont
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #47Rom,
You basically nailed it earlier by saying USA were for it we were not.
You have to ask the question why were we not? It is down to the managers tactics and not allowing certain players to play on the front foot. We sat so deep it was an embarrassment. Harry Kane was playing as a defensive Midfielder ffs? I know he comes deep for spurs and goes at them but there was a stat that stated Maguire touched the ball more than Kane in their 18 yard box? That is wrong!
We will see which England team turn up against Wales. Will be interesting, I hope last night was a lessons learned on not how to play and set your team up and allow a far less superior team come at you as they were more tenacious.
catchy in norway
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:45 AM
Comment #48Davas
clearly you don’t understand football.
I will make it simple for you, you have to score more than the other team, Rafa, Bruce, Pardew played with the idea they have a point at kick off, lets not lose it.
Pardew was lucky to have had Ba and Cisse, pump it long and let them do the rest, Rafa at NUFC bought Rondon to do exactly that at Liverpool he had Tores.
When Rafa bought Miggy, what an absolute waste of money, he made him run from his own half multiple times per game to either try and score himself or find the one person up front with him, Zero goals zero assists under Rafa
Howe on the other hand, has Miggy starting higher up the pitch, plays with more players in that attacking third giving him more options or more space to run into.
catchy in norway
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #49Fenham
just to prove your point.
https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1632094/Live/International-FIFA-World-Cup-2022-England-USA
heat map, just select Kane, hardly in the BOX
Davas
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:50 AM
Comment #50Catchy
Sorry, but after your 1st sentence I didn’t bother reading any further.
catchy in norway
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:52 AM
Comment #51Davas
Truth hurts, I know
Davas
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:55 AM
Comment #52Nah catchy. I’ve said many a time I know nowt.
Wor B
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:56 AM
Comment #53Haha, it’s all NadJ’s fault!
He suggested England are playing in the style of retro Newcastle managers in turn and the next performance could be Rafa-esk.
In fact if you take into account temporary / stand in managers, last night was Graham Jones’ effort. Wales will be Steve Bruce, last 16 Ben Dawson, the quarter final is Rafa’s turn.
Should we get to the semis, it’ll be a McClarenesk performance, then wait for it…
John Carver takes England into the WC final,
😆
Davas
Nov 26, 2022 at 11:57 AM
Comment #54Right, that’s me off for a while as I’ll be off to uni to study my degree in football knowledge for blog users.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:02 PM
Comment #55Davas,
Good luck with that, I just hope you get to booze every night and have relations with lots of pretty girls in your halls of residence 😀
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:04 PM
Comment #56Five years later, three managers, new owners and seven shredded Voodoo dolls and codeye is still harping on about Rafa Benitez 😀
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:05 PM
Comment #57Miggy was a waste of money omfgttgttmfg 😀
Davas
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:06 PM
Comment #58Raj
Unfortunately I’m not going to have time for all that as I’ll have too much work to put in to get to an acceptable level. Starting from a really low base. 🙂
catchy in norway
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:16 PM
Comment #59Miggy was definitely a waste of Money UNDER RAFA AND BRUCE, those 2 clowns dont know how to USE or MOTIVATE players.
JAIL
im so glad we have a coach now, a one who knows how to spot talent and develop player. not put square pegs in round holes.
I know your into names over ability, accounting over watching
catchy in norway
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:16 PM
Comment #60Davas
Yoour welllllcome
catchy in norway
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:18 PM
Comment #61Jail
what is good about zero goals and zero assists ?
I love watching us scoring goals.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Comment #62Mooy had a cracking game fo Oz, well done to them.
Munster Mag
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Comment #63Jail, be careful encouraging Davas to be chasing the young ladies will have you marked down as a sick perv by a doddery old fella on here.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:21 PM
Comment #64catchy,
Do you wanna build a snowman 😀
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:22 PM
Comment #65EGB,
Shame young Kuol never got a cameo mind.
Fenham to Chalfont
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:23 PM
Comment #66Still think the group b will end like this:
1- England
2- Iran
3- USA
4- Wales
I think we will give Wales a spanking and I think Iran will beat USA when they meet. Wales are dead and buried.
It is how England go from the next stage. We need a much better balance in MF and a better connection from MF to attack. Kane needs to get into more dangerous positions going forward. But I’ve a feeling we will be playing France in the quarterfinals and that is where we will be really tested. France are in a similar predicament to England and that is come into this WC in very bad form. If we do play France that will be a hugely interesting game. We shall see.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:24 PM
Comment #67Munster,
I deliberately substituted pretty for young to shield against the puritanical maniac.
Wimbletoon
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:24 PM
Comment #68I think had it been Foden who’d scored the tap in from Wilson’s assist, then it would’ve been Foden who’d come on instead of Grealish against USA.
Yep, I truly think it’s as simple as that with Southgate.
Munster Mag
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:27 PM
Comment #69Catchy, I recall saying that there would be riots if the one who couldn’t be criticised was to bizarrely get the managers job at Spurs or Arsenal. Needn’t have worried as he just went on to two shit clubs, driven by financial motivation, and made a balls of both. Ah jeez now Rotonda will come along and question your mental health and mine. Yikes! 🙂
WLtoon
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:27 PM
Comment #70Looking forward to watching the Saudi team at 1pm v Poland, they remind me of the Toon the way they press, i was well impressed with them last time out.
I think they will beat Poland, who are no mugs, and i doubt many managers will fancy coming up against that lot.
Watching England last night was like watching Bruceball, bloody awful it was.
It boils my piss when Southgate sticks with his blue eyed boy Kane even though he was obviously struggling to impose himself on the game, why didn`t he give Wilson at least 30 minutes.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:27 PM
Comment #71Got some really bad news this morning 😕
Munster Mag
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Comment #72Jail 67, very funny me old mucker.
Munster Mag
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Comment #7371, you OK jail?
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:28 PM
Comment #74One of those light fittings needed new innards, not just a battery, takes twenty minutes to do that 😕
Mund
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:33 PM
Comment #75Southgate and England last night were indefensible.
Pure and utter shite…
I look at it as the same as the Scotland result in the euros. Everyone was furious afterwards of how we played but we ended up going on a great run with some great results.
I can’t stand Southgate and think he is a joke of a football manager. He seriously hasn’t got a clue how to change a game.
When you start the first minute like you do and end the last minute in the same fashion it just shows how clueless he really is. A top manger can change the game as he knows his players and systems like the back of his hand….
Eddie Howe…
Nuff said!
Wor B
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:35 PM
Comment #76Innards replacement?
That’s a two man job with extra safety lookouts. Production halted, FFS, this could cause a run on the pound!
Munster Mag
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:36 PM
Comment #77Apologies to the blog for still building snowmen. I’m a bit rinsed after the Christmas party last night. I knew I shudnt go as am slowly getting out of the concussion but plenty of pressure etc . Dublin was rocking though. Its no cosmopolitan now, ended up talking to a Brazilian couple about football and Bruno. They had only moved to Ireland a year ago and adore the country. It was really uplifting to be honest. But more importantly they are both recent nufc fans. Because of Bruno 🙂 . He had a brilliant argument about the media and Saudi ownership but sadly I can’t remember it !
Munster Mag
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:37 PM
Comment #78Ah ffs Jail I thought someone had died or something personal.
jane
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:43 PM
Comment #79a significant contributing factor to England’s poor performance was the deliberate game plan. At least Gareth Southgate can change tactics to suit different occassions and get the team to buy into them. it was probably a poorer performance than they planned but don’t be completely fooled by the performance.
jane
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:44 PM
Comment #80“A top manger can change the game as he knows his players and systems like the back of his hand….”
as i was saying