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Newcastle United are in pole position to sign the Spanish teenager.
Malaga director Kike Perez is refusing to give up hope of keeping 18-year-old winger Antonio Cordero.
Cordero is out of contract this summer and Newcastle United have held talks over a pre-contract agreement. The player and his family recently visited Tyneside, with the Magpies expected to secure his signature, despite reports of Porto trying to hijack a deal.
Who is Antonio Cordero?
Born in Jerez in southern Spain, Cordero was on the books at Cadiz, Sevilla and Real Betis before joining Malaga in 2021.
Cordero first broke into Malaga’s ‘B-team’ and caught the eye in the Spanish fifth tier - scoring 12 goals in 17 appearances. He has also been capped for Spain at under-18s and under-19s level.
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The winger has since established himself as a regular in Malaga’s first team since making his debut in 2023. In 29 La Liga 2 appearances this campaign, he has scored five goals and provided six assists.
The plan for Antonio Cordero
If or when Cordero officially joins United, the plan is to send him out on loan next season.
United signed Yankuba Minteh for £7million in 2023 and was immediately loaned to Feyenoord. A year later, after never kicking a ball in black and white, the Gambian was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £33million to help satisfy Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
Last summer, Newcastle brought in young defender Miodrag Pivas from Serbian outfit FK Jedinstvo Ub before loaning him to Willem II. However, it has not been successful as Minteh’s with the 19-year-old featuring just three times in the Eredivisie.
But Malaga aren’t giving up hope yet
Despite it looking increasingly that Cordero will move to St James’ Park, Malaga chief Perez still hold hopes the player will have a change of heart.
“I have hope because, and I’ve always said this, I’m no longer saying this as someone who works at Malaga or as their general director,” Perez told PTV Malaga’s Zona Deporte (via Sport Witness). “I’m saying this as someone who works in football. Things will happen and, in the end, we’ll see what happens.
“I see it as logical. I don’t think that whether you’re here or not, people give everything until the end. I’m not one to hold things against others. Whoever is here, as long as they give everything they have, there’s nothing to say.”
YOUR NEXT READ: I would not be surprised if this Newcastle United & Liverpool swap deal happens - he'd be a really good fit.