Newcastle United are enjoying some special times under Eddie Howe and they could now beat elite competition to land an in-demand player this summer, per a report.
Newcastle United look to enjoy productive summer
The Magpies are firmly in contention for a Champions League slot and will hope to rubber-stamp a place in Europe's premier competition to boost their scope for recruiting talent this summer.
Eddie Howe has done a tremendous job in the North East and will play in the Europa Conference League at a minimum after their EFL Cup victory over Liverpool. Still, there is plenty of work to do on Tyneside.
eddie howe
Heading into the window, Newcastle could launch a move to sign Bryan Mbeumo following his sensational form at Brentford, even if his £60 million price-tag means they have to take stock before fully committing to the pursuit.
On the same token, the Magpies are hopeful they can beat Real Madrid to Albacete's Christian Kofane after making contact over a potential £4 million deal that could see the Spanish champions ousted.
Heart of Midlothian striker James Wilson is another Newcastle target, following a similar trend to Kofane in the sense that they would likely be brought in as developmental players as opposed to first-team starters.
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Clearly, there is space for both types of profile to exist at St James' Park, with PIF's ambition likely to attract some of the world's best talent alongside untapped potential from lesser-known markets.
Footballing excellence can exist in all types of climates, and Newcastle are now reportedly looking to edge Barcelona to the signing of a talented youngster from the continent of Africa.
Ryder: Newcastle look to sign wonderkid Aboubacar Maiga
According to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, Newcastle United want to sign Academie Africa Foot wonderkid Aboubacar Maiga, who has been likened to global superstar Lionel Messi in his homeland of Mali.
Despite Barcelona's offer of a pre-contract agreement for the 16-year-old, he dreams of starring in England one day and thus would prefer a move to Tyneside, though he has also been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea.
Newcastle United's remaining fixtures in 2024/25
Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
Chelsea (H)
Arsenal (A)
Everton (H)
The attacking midfielder is also the captain of Mali's Under-16 side and could now have a shot at life at one of the world's elite clubs should the Magpies manage to force a deal over the line.
Admittedly, it is difficult to judge the pull of clubs as a direct comparison when it comes to youth stars, but if Newcastle were able to beat Barcelona to his signature, it would say a lot about PIF's ambitious project in the North East.
Securing developing talent is crucial to any club with aspirations of establishing themselves as a dominant force and can also save millions down the line. Now, supporters will wait patiently to see how this one plays out, with the prospect of Newcastle shoving Barcelona to one side alive and kicking.