Diego Carlos' prospective transfer to Newcastle United has quickly turned into a saga which could yet rumble on.
Rejected bids, rival interest, social media posts and a transfer request have regularly changed the landscape on the deal in recent days.
The Magpies remain determined to land their man having so far failed to strengthen a defence which has only registered one Premier League clean sheet all season.
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There has been suggestions that Newcastle may have to offer in excess of £40m to land the 28-year-old in this window.
But if United ultimately make the breakthrough and sign Carlos within the next fortnight, what should supporters expect from the new signing?
The Brazil international arrived at Sevilla in the summer of 2019 from Nantes in a deal worth £12m, and was partnered with fellow Ligue 1 recruit Jules Kounde.
It is currently the French defender who is said to be attracting the attention of Europe's elite sides, with the latest talk suggesting a fee of £70m would be needed to prise the 23-year-old away from the club.
However, Football Espana editor Alan Feehely insists it was Carlos who was initially tipped to make the big-money move abroad ahead of Kounde.
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He told ChronicleLive: "He started his career at the Sanchez-Pizjuan well and in the initial period after lockdown, when La Liga restarted, he was the one getting all the interest from overseas rather than Kounde.
"But he made a couple of high-profile errors during Sevilla’s run to eventually winning the Europa League and that cooled interest a bit.
"Since then, however, he’s grown to become an important part of Sevilla’s side, forming one of the best partnerships in La Liga beside Kounde at centre-back.
"It is Kounde, however, who’s five years his junior, who attracts most of the hype and attention."
Eddie Howe has most recently relied upon Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar at the heart of defence, but regular defensive lapses have proven costly in recent weeks.
The Newcastle captain has struggled for form, while Schar has reportedly attracted attention from Bordeaux with his deal set to expire in the summer.
Carlos would inevitably replace either Lascelles or Schar in the back four, and his physicality would likely prove a more natural fit alongside the Swiss international.
However, Feehely has questioned whether his biggest asset will prove as effective in the Premier League.
He said: "Diego is quick and very strong, and that’s a real asset to have in a league like La Liga. This can mean that he bets on himself a little too often and makes an error, and there’s no doubt that there are mistakes in his game.
"But he thrives in Sevilla’s system. Julen Lopetegui has built a team that’s very much defence first, and as well as having Kounde beside him he has Fernando sitting just in front of him as the sole pivot.
"I’d have concerns about how he’d perform in a team like Howe’s Newcastle because I think it would be a very different proposition, especially given how quick and physical the Premier League is."
Carlos will celebrate his 29th birthday on March 15, prompting questions over how much Newcastle should feasibly spend despite the team's current plight.
The mistakes in Carlos' game is one that has been repeated by several commentators discussing the potential transfer, and it is this reason which leads Feehely to doubt his credentials as an 'elite' defender.
The Football Espana editor believes the increased physicality of the Premier League will prove a test for the centre-back, but he is still confident the signing would strengthen Newcastle's fight to avoid relegation.
He added: "I think it could be interesting to see how he does when his physicality isn’t as far ahead, if you get what I’m trying to say. Overall I think that he’s a good signing, but I don’t think he’s an elite, world-class centre-back.
"But given the position Newcastle are in, I think he’d definitely help the club’s chances of avoiding relegation."
