Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Newcastle United could be closing in on their Bruno Guimaraes replacement in Manchester City's Nico Gonzalez. It has been a window that the Magpies will want to forget, given the level of talent that has left the club, not to mention it was likely the central reason for Eddie Howe walking away.
Matthias Jaissle almost brought fresh hope by securing an opening-weekend Premier League win over Liverpool, but a late penalty saw the Reds snatch a point from the jaws of defeat at St James' Park. It's a tough way to start the season for a side that has had a bruising summer, but there were also encouraging signs.
via Reuters
Still, the recruitment work must go on, and Newcastle still need a replacement for Guimaraes, and they seem to have found one in out of favour City star Gonzalez. Providing an update on his YouTube show, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said: "Newcastle, I wanted to talk about Newcastle as well. My exclusive update of the night is that there is big, big, big confidence at Newcastle to get a deal done in the next hours for Nico Gonzalez from Manchester City. The situation has been the following in the recent days: Manchester City opened doors to the exit of Nico Gonzalez. For Manchester City, the player is not untouchable at all. In the Sunday game, the opening game of Enso Maresca at home, nothing changed in terms of midfielders because Nico Gonzalez was not playing and was not starting for Manchester City.
"So, the message from the coach was quite clear. Imagine that Manchester City lost Bernardo (Silva), Manchester City lost Rodri, Manchester City lost (Tijjani) Reijnders in this emergency situation waiting for Bouaddi. He's arriving tomorrow, and hey are waiting for the new signings. Nico Gonzalez is not even playing. So the message is clear. you can go and Nico Gonzalez now understands about the club position. So despite Nico fighting to try stay at Manchester City, they are open to selling and now Newcastle have confidence.
"He can play as a holding midfielder, he can play as a number eight, he can play on the left. He is versatile.” - Pep Guardiola on Nico Gonzalez
"My understanding is that the agreement Newcastle-Manchester City is at the final stages and also the conversation with the player is now underway. So, work in progress. It's not a done deal yet. Newcastle want to be careful till the very end because it's not been an easy window."
Speaking recently about a cohort of players who want to leave City, which includes Gonzalez, Maresca said: “Unless Rodri, the rest all have in common one thing, they didn't play a lot. When they don't play they prefer to leave.”
Bazoumana Traore
Amar Dedic
Aladji Bamba
Lukas Hornicek
Sean Steur
Ewan Jaouen
Guardiola on the growth of Nico Gonzalez
Nico Gonzalez in action for Porto
Former City boss Guardiola has described Gonzalez as a 'versatile' player. He said in February of last year: “Nico is a player who can play in that position. He has played there in Porto. He can play as a holding midfielder, he can play as a number eight, he can play on the left. He is versatile.”
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He added: “He's getting better and better. So, it's not easy sometimes [to] arrive at a new club, but we are really pleased in his be behaviour and I'm pretty sure [he'll] be better and better month by month, year by year because it's incredible. He is so coachable, open-minded and he's a lovely guy and mum and dad have to be so proud of him as a human being as a player, and I had the feeling that every game he is better.”
Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle on the touchline
Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle on the touchline