Over the weekend, it was reported that Newcastle have identified Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos as the top target for the winter window. The Northern Echo claimed the Magpies were set to make their move after months of links to the playmaker.
However, Sport Witness is citing a report from France’s Le10Sport that Santos is close to committing to Chelsea, who seem to have come out of the blue for the talented teen. Barcelona was Newcastle’s closest competitor according to recent reports.
The French outlet’s angle on their report is that Chelsea have edged not only Newcastle and Barcelona but also PSG for Santos. There is some discrepancy in the reporting as the price quoted is just €15m which is around half of his previously reported valuation.
If this report is accurate, with considerable emphasis on the ‘if’, Newcastle have other budding stars on the shortlist. There are continual reports that Velez Sarsfield playmaker Maximo Perrone is high on the wishlist.
The Argentine club’s sporting director is none other than former Magpie Christian Bassedas, who roamed the midfield at St. James’ Park in the early 2000s. Newcastle World recently reported that Bassedas was on Tyneside to tie up a deal for Perrone. Though the claim arose from a podcast in Argentina.
Whether it’s Santos, Perrone, or another young gem, Newcastle are determined to add youthful quality to the ranks in January. Garang Kuol’s move becomes official while links to right-backs Harrison Ashby and Cody Drameh refuse to dry up.

347 comments so far
Assassins Inc
Nov 29, 2022 at 10:45 PM
Comment #321Add on’s. Spellchecking ahole iPhone.
Mister Tuff
Nov 29, 2022 at 10:49 PM
Comment #322Some of the so called lesser teams are ” catching up” with the big boys.
Some of their football is a bit nieve -but honest and excellent to watch with some great attacking players. Makes the football much better to watch than games with boring tactics.
Assassins Inc
Nov 29, 2022 at 10:49 PM
Comment #323I’m sure we have some capable builders on the isle Magic, 60000 stadium will be built over the next 6 months, will be up within a month and drunk for the remaining 5.
Sounds like a great payoff for the builders and iron workers.
magicmac54
Nov 29, 2022 at 10:56 PM
Comment #324Assassins
Thanks for that information mate, with a fair wind i should be around for the next European Championship in the British Isles, but by the time the next world cup comes to our shores i suspect i`ll be pushing up the daises along with a few others from the blog fella 😀 😀
magicmac54
Nov 29, 2022 at 11:04 PM
Comment #325Assassins@323
That sounds like a plan mate 😀 it`s been good chatting with you tonight fella, time for me to hit the straw and dream about Ireland winning the world cup which is as close as we will ever get my friend 😀 😀 Nite Nite ladies and gentlemen keep safe. HWTL
Scythe
Nov 29, 2022 at 11:04 PM
Comment #326Tuff
Nieve is the Spanish word for snow. You think some of their football is a bit like snow? Or did you mean naive?
Mister Tuff
Nov 29, 2022 at 11:06 PM
Comment #327scythe – yes meant naive.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 29, 2022 at 11:41 PM
Comment #328Jane
Well said…like ya thinking.
Well done to the USA (Senegal & Nederland, too) and our shared fans here.
;1)
Scythe
Nov 30, 2022 at 1:41 AM
Comment #329Kieffer Moore said he couldn’t wait to knock England out of the World Cup. Unfortunately for him he’s going to be waiting a while. He can think about that on the flight back to Wales… 🙂
Zhongguo Geordie
Nov 30, 2022 at 4:00 AM
Comment #330I criticised Southgate heavily in the past. No complaints so far. I hope he’s seen the light with Foden over Sterling. Foden can be our tournament winner. He’s been rested, is on form, and will be hungry. Although Rashfords two goals will give him a headache. Hopefully Stetling’s down to 5th or 6th choice.
Glad he got rid of three at the back so we can attack more. Two DMs is too much vs Wales or USA but could be useful against better teams. Personally I’d go for the better passers with one DM so would like to see Gallagher or even Maddison get time although we missed our chance to bed them in so would be risky to disrupt the team. Southgates slowly making the right decisions, I just feel his conservative mindset means he’s always a year or two behind the curve. He seems timid at making decisions which could cost us later.
Zhongguo Geordie
Nov 30, 2022 at 4:05 AM
Comment #331I’m still sticking with Spain or Holland to win as they have a huge advantage in having elite level managers. England will be up there as we have the best players, great depth, well organised in defence (credit to Southgate), and enough talent up front to win games. As I said I don’t rate Gareth, but almost all the other teams have Championship level managers (or worse) so he’s not actually out his depth.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 6:03 AM
Comment #332ZG,
Have you been watching Holland, they don’t look anything special at all, I think USA will give them a scare.
ChicoUSA
Nov 30, 2022 at 6:09 AM
Comment #333Congratulations to England on winning Group B!
Also very happy that the young USA team is moving on to knockout phase of tournament!
But the most remarkable scenes I have seen today are the celebrations in Tehran, that their national team had been defeated! Many citizens of that hardline, authoritarian theocracy were angered that their national team failed to voice solidarity with protests ongoing in the country for basic human rights and a more open society! A truly amazing people!
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 6:17 AM
Comment #334Scythe,
Did Moore really say that, a bit strange given he was born and raised in Devon.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 6:19 AM
Comment #335Chico,
And a very warm congratulations to your lot as well. I was fortunate enough to be in the USA end vs Portugal in 2002 and the atmosphere was excellent, I think you’ll give a Holland a good game.
ChicoUSA
Nov 30, 2022 at 6:30 AM
Comment #336Jail
I hope so! The US team has quite a bit of raw talent and quickness, but still have a long way to go to compete with the “big boys”. Progress is being made with the program and so I would be happy just to see them compete at a high level against the Netherlands…
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 7:16 AM
Comment #337You have to feel for the Iranian footballers if the people think that way about them. They’re very much in the spotlight and the regime could make life very difficult for them. Disappearances are quite common over there.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 7:52 AM
Comment #338On the game last night, I thought it was a decent performance, Wales’ game plan was clearly to try and nick a 0-1 win with a long range pot shot and hope that USA vs Iran was a draw. It was never in doubt us progressing. I was one of the many if not 100K/millions wanting Rahford off, he was well off the pace. In my defence of that I said what is more realistic is that he should be given 15 minutes to make an impression or be hooked. Well he didn’t half make an impression.
simon376
Nov 30, 2022 at 8:35 AM
Comment #339Raj
At half time I had sent a text out saying get either Saka on for real width or Wison for 2 up front to hold ball up for each other. few mins later I texted back saying how wrong I got it after free kick, never mind next goal. Just goes to show, the people in charge do know so much more than us.
Also caught up on early posts from yesterday and saw yours about stick Southgate is getting, totally agree. Took us to semis 4 years ago and final of Euros last year, lets face it, might not be best football, but done more than anyone else except Sir Alf
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:02 AM
Comment #340Simon,
He’s going to have to win it before he gets certain people off his back, even then it’ll be “we won it in spite of him not because of him, it would have been abject failure if he hadn’t won it with this squad” Woy Hodgson’s team wasn’t that much more or less talented and he took us out of the Euro’s to a country with half a million people and exited Brazil without a whimper. Before South Gate turned up, getting to a semi final was a cause of national celebration.
cyprus
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:04 AM
Comment #341“Newcastle United’s scouting team have been keeping close tabs on the World Cup.”
Haven’t seen anyone I’d absolutely love to sign yet, you?
cyprus
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:08 AM
Comment #342Which team has really impressed you, stood out?
Me too!
Anyway, my bet is on us winning it. As good a chance as the big four I think.
Munster Mag
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:33 AM
Comment #343Jail I totally agree.england keep doing well and no team will particularly want to face them. I wudnt call van gaal elite level any more. And the tournament doesn’t have an outstanding team. Are Brazil really that good? If they go a goal down the samba pressure can squeeze them. But I love Brazil and the beat.
Rafa was elite level, once upon a time!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:36 AM
Comment #344@Cyprus
Yeah no player has instantly stood out although sometimes that is better to not get a guy who is outstanding in a tournament? Shop window and all that
A player who has impressed me is Tyler Adams for USA thought he has been good for Leeds in the premiership but he was head and shoulders above any English midfielder the other day (that includes the over hyped Bellingham and Rice)
Mister Tuff
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:43 AM
Comment #345Just been on Sky – they had some sort of predictor and came up with us playing France in the quarter final and getting beat off them.
Wouldn’t argue with that.
I do not think we could control Mbappe -Walker is pretty quick but no match for Mbappes’ accelaration.
Cannot believe Mbappe is only 23 years old – seems he has been around for ages.
Mister Tuff
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:44 AM
Comment #346Holland/Netherlands are not that good.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 9:49 AM
Comment #347It’s a double edged sword Wilson’s unselfishness but he’s doing the right thing by playing for the team, he might have had a couple of goals to the good had he been a bit more greedy.