Newcastle ‘prepare record bid’ for West Ham star as Romano plays down Tonali reports
Tonali #Tonali
Newcastle United are ready to break their transfer record in order to sign West Ham attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta, according to reports.
The Magpies are looking to make some marquee signings this summer after qualifying for the Champions League by finishing fourth in the Premier League in the season just gone.
They have already been linked with a number of high-profile players and now a report in Spanish publication Fichajes insists that they are hoping to sign West Ham’s Paqueta.
The Brazilian made a good impression in his first season at the London Stadium with five goals and three assists in all competitions as he helped the Hammers win the Europa Conference League.
It is claimed that Newcastle are now readying a ‘a record bid’ for 25-year-old – who moved from French club Lyon in the summer – as Eddie Howe continues his idea to bet ‘on players already proven in the main European leagues’.
Newcastle would need to pay over the £63m they gave Real Socieded to bring Alexander Isak to St James’ Park to make it a record bid with Fichajes adding that they are willing to put ‘more than 70 million euros on the table to get his signing’.
Newcastle should aim higher than current targets
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Although West Ham won the Europa Conference League, the report adds that Paqueta could ‘stagnate’ if he stays at the Hammers and ‘could recover’ his ‘progression’ if he moves to Newcastle.
Newcastle have been linked with Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella over the last week and now Sandro Tonali, who plays for Inter’s neighbours AC Milan, is reportedly on their radar.
Tonali’s agents are said to be in London to discuss a deal with Milan telling Newcastle they want £68m for the Italy international after making an offer of around £42.9m on Tuesday.
But Fabrizio Romano has tempered expectations over a potential deal and insists it is a “very similar case” to their interest in Barella.
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Yesterday, we had some rumours about Sandro Tonali to Newcastle.
“What we can say is that it’s a reality. Newcastle like Sandro Tonali, Newcastle have Sandro Tonali on their list but as we already said for Nicolo Barella last week, this is a very similar case.
“Newcastle would love to sign Sandro Tonali as they would love to sign Nicolo Barella but the main point is first of all the value of the bid because Milan want important money or nothing.
“Tonali is more than an important player for Milan, and then there’s the player’s side.
“It’s crucial to say because Tonali is a big Milan fan, he’s a Milan symbol and so to convince Sandro Tonali is going to be absolutely difficult, same as it was for Nicolo Barella.
“So, this is the situation, let’s see how the conversation goes.
“Interest, yes, intention to bid too, but the reality is the player’s side is absolutely crucial for Barella and Tonali.”