Newcastle United have hit the nail on the head with transfers since the takeover was given the green light at St. James' Park in 2021. The Magpies have spent in the region of £221 million since the new owners arrived on Tyneside and that's only set to increase with the impending arrival of Sandro Tonali.
Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe have clear plans to improve the squad for the here and now, but their investment into young talents like Garang Kuol and Yankuba Minteh show they also have one eye on the future. Such is the nature of the modern game, clubs are expanding their recruitment drive to capture the best young talent from around the globe before needing to pay a hefty transfer fee - with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea among the front runners in the English game.
The Toon still have work to do when it comes to improving their academy standing, but there's a concerted effort from the club to invest in young talent who could feature in the first-team in the short run. Harrison Ashby is one signing that epitomises the blueprint at St. James' Park, although he's yet to taste first-team action.
The general consensus on Tyneside is that he'll get more game time next year given the impact Champions League football will have on the Magpies' fixture schedule. Qualifying for Europe's elite competition has granted them more wriggle room in terms of recruitment and Financial Fair Play but they still need to box smart and improve the squad to be competitive.
READ MORE: Newcastle's pursuit of Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Barella point to key quality Eddie Howe is after
Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Sven Botman are purchases that were ready made for the first-team but still have their best years ahead of them. Of those three, the Brazilian midfielder has attracted interest from the likes of Real Madrid following his performances in a black and white shirt, albeit nothing yet has come to fruition and Newcastle hope to tie him down to a new long-term deal.
Los Blancos have dominated the Champions League over the last decade and it's something the Magpies are looking to emulate in the long run. The Toon are some way off winning the competition, but they could repeat Real's transfer dealings in order to reach those lofty heights.
Madrid have shifted away from buying up all the talent like the Galactico era - but still have a considerable pull in the world of football, Jude Bellingham's big money move there only emphasises that point. But, it's the transfer of Eduardo Camavinga that Newcastle should look to repeat.
The French midfielder was once the most courted teenager in world football after shining in Ligue 1 with Rennes, but it was Real who won the €40million race for his signature. The 20-year-old is statistically one of the best defensive midfielders in world football under the age of 21, according to CIES, with just one player ahead of him on that list.
It may come as a surprise to some, but that one player is Newcastle linked Pablo Maia. The Brazilian has an estimated value of €10.3million and played 4,039 minutes of senior football last season.
Maia has been linked with a move to St. James' Park in recent months and is approaching the final year of his contract in his native country. The Magpies scouts have been in South America according to a number of a reports, with Howe keen on adding a defensive midfielder to his squad to free up Bruno Guimaraes to play further forward.
Camavinga is valued in the region of €80million after a stellar campaign with Carlo Ancelotti's side and for Maia to rank ahead of the defensive midfielder is quite some feat. The Brazilian excels in ball recovery compared to his team's average and league average - although you must bare in mind when comparing the two, Camavinga is operating at a higher level than the 21-year-old Toon 'target.'
Maia also has impressive statistics when it comes to aerial defence and boasts a better distribution compared to that of the Frenchman. Steve Nickson has reportedly watched the Sao Paulo midfielder earlier this year and Maia's agent has claimed the Magpies or another European club could make an offer this summer.
Local journalist Jorge Nicola, claims the players agent Junior Pedroso notified him of the Toon's interest. Nicola said: “What Junior told me is that Pablo Maia has been targeted by a Newcastle scout.
"When the English team is looking for a player, he (scout) starts to observe, even if from a distance, the numbers, behaviour, performance, before taking the decision to buy him or not.
“Pablo Maia should receive offers in the middle of the year, if not from Newcastle, from other clubs. He is, today, the most ready and valued player, and who most animates the international market (…). The player can guarantee, at least, €10m."
The Magpies could be getting a real gem if they gamble on the Brazilian this summer and give him time to develop, like Lyon did with the likes of Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta. If Newcastle cut out the middle man - a European club that would likely inflate the transfer fee - they could save millions with some patience.
