Newcastle United are still hoping to add more new signings to their squad before the summer transfer window comes to an end on Tuesday.
Manchester City’s move for Lille’s highly-rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has reportedly hampered Newcastle United’s hopes to luring a prime transfer target away from the Ligue 1 club.
The departure of Balon D’or winner Rodri to La Liga champions Barcelona and the impending sale of Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle has forced City into a major rebuild of their midweek during the summer transfer window. After completing a reported £116m deal for former Magpies midfielder Elliot Anderson, City have turned their focus towards a move for 18-year-old midfielder Bouaddi.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo played for Belgium against Egypt in the 2026 World Cupplaceholder image
Matias Fernandez-Pardo played for Belgium against Egypt in the 2026 World Cup | Getty Images
The youngster was one of the stars of this summer’s World Cup finals as he impressed during Morocco’s run to the quarter-final and he has now become the latest addition to Enzo Maresca’s City squad after they agreed a deal worth an initial £85.6m for the midfielder.
That is said to have had a knock-on effect on Newcastle’s reported attempts to persuade Lille to agreed to a deal for attacking midfielder Matias Fernandez-Pardo. The Magpies are believed to have identified the five-times capped Belgium international as one of their key targets for the final days of the summer transfer window as they look to boost Mathias Jaissle’s options out wide and in the number ten position. However, Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed the funds received from the sale of Bouaddi to City have put Lille in a ‘strong position’ as they look to retain Fernandez-Pardo’s services and will stand firm on their £60m valuation. He also revealed the Magpies have ‘taken note’ of the situation as they consider where they will move in the transfer market with a deal now becoming increasingly difficult to complete.
He posted on X: “Newcastle United fails to sway LOSC. With a positive financial balance sheet and the sale of Ayyoub Bouaddi for €100M, the French club is in a strong position, and its president, Olivier Letang, holds all the power to stand firm on his €70M asking price. The Magpies have taken note in recent hours regarding Matías Fernández-Pardo. Wait and see.”
Your next Newcastle United read:Not just Nico Gonzalez - Newcastle United pushing to secure another new signing before transfer deadline