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Newcastle United have made a number of ‘project signings’ in the past 12 months.
Newcastle United are set to sign highly-rated South Korean teenager Park Seung-soo, according to reputable sources in Asia.
The 18-year-old forward currently plays for K-League 2 side Suwon Bluewings and previously had trials with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been linked.
The Magpies hope to finalise a deal before they tour Seoul next month as part of the Coupang Play Series.
Newcastle United hope to sign Park Seung-soo in time for South Korea
Eddie Howe’s side face a K-League All Stars team on Wednesday, July 30 before four days later going up against Tottenham, who, with Son Heung-min in their ranks, will be the crowd’s favourites.
But Newcastle are also aiming to maximise the interest of the locals by potentially having Park in their ranks. United chiefs have identified Asia as a big growth area having first visited Japan last year.
"We are proud to be bringing Newcastle United to South Korea for the first time as part of the Coupang Play Series,” said Newcastle chief commercial officer Peter Silverstone.
“Coupang Play recently became the Premier League’s official broadcast partner in South Korea so this series is a fantastic opportunity to connect with passionate fans in the region and showcase our amazing club.
“Two high-profile matches hosted at first-class facilities will provide unforgettable experiences for both local and traveling fans, while supporting preparations of the squad during an important period of pre-season.”
Newcastle United project signings
The signing of Park would be in the same vein as Antonio Cordero, Miodrag Pivas, Garang Kuol and Yankuba Minteh. The four players joined Newcastle before immediately heading out on loan.
Cordero will officially join Newcastle on July 1 when his contract expires at Malaga with Ajax among the teams hoping to take him for the 2025-26 campaign. Serbian defender Pivas spent last season at Willem II while Kuol, in the opening 18 months after arriving from Central Coast Mariners, was loaned to Hearts and FC Volendam.
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Minteh is the club’s biggest success story when it comes to buying emerging talent at a low price and then making a profit. Newcastle signed the Gambian from Danish side Odense Boldklub for £7m and loaned him straight to Feyenoord.
Following a successful spell, Minteh was set to feature in Eddie Howe’s first team plans last season but the Magpies opted to cash in to help their fight to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
"Scouting and recruiting emerging talent is an essential part of building a sustainable future, particularly within the current PSR framework, so the market is fiercely competitive,” outgoing sporting director Paul Mitchell explained last year.
"We continue to scout extensively, both domestically and overseas, with a view to securing players who can come through our talent pathway and, ideally, become part of the first team in future.”
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