The latest transfer talk from Newcastle United as the Magpies prepare for the summer transfer window.
The South American market is one United have targeted in recent years with little success after the likes of Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel and Argentina midfielder Maximo Perrone joined Chelsea and Manchester City respectively after being linked with moves to St James Park.
However, it now appears Newcastle have made a breakthrough in their attempts to lure the most promising South American talent to Tyneside after transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported ‘all documents have been counter-signed’ to rubber stamp a move for Independiente del Valle prospect Martinez.
The 16-year-old winger will officially join United in May 2027 and there are reports he has commanded an initial fee of around £2.6m. Newcastle have also been linked with the likes of Palmeiras duo Allan Elias and Eduardo Conceicao and Fluminense centre-back Viery in recent weeks.
Reports in South America have now suggested the Magpies are keen on another South American talent after Argentinean outlet the Buenos Aires Times suggested Newcastle are keen to land 18-year-old Velez Sarsfield striker Lautaro Piola. The youngster has reportedly been compared to Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez, who has plundered his way to 173 goals in 371 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A giants and has also scored 36 goals in 75 senior international appearances for Argentina.
SportsWitness have claimed Piola is viewed as a development signing for Newcastle, rather than a first-team player, and ‘early indications’ state a fee of around £5m could be required to fend off reported interest from Italian clubs. That comes after Argentine outlet Clarin stated a number of Serie A clubs were considering a move for Piola as he could possess dual nationality through a distant family link to World Cup winner and Italy legend Silvio Piola. The same report also reveals the young striker has scored 38 goals in 23 games for Velez’s youth team and scored 17 goals in 27 appearances during his first season featuring for their second string.
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