Newcastle United have set their sights on signing Raphinha from Barcelona as well as lining up a double swoop on Turkish side Fenerbahce to sign Arda Guler and Ferdi Kadioglu.
The Magpies are on cloud nine after Sunday’s 6-1 thumping of Tottenham lifted them to third in the Premier League, leapfrogging Manchester United who were playing Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final. But the club are not resting on their laurels and are lining up targets for the summer transfer window as they close in on Champions League qualification.
Newcastle’s Saudi owners have ambitious long-term aims and plan to back Eddie Howe to continue on their remarkable upward trajectory under the former Bournemouth manager.
Mundo Deportivo report that a move for Raphinha is on the offing having been interested in the Brazil winger last year. Raphinha, 26, moved to Barca from Leeds United instead but it appears that figures at St James’ Park have been keeping tabs on him.
The La Liga giants are in the midst of a financial crisis and must raise funds by selling players this summer in addition to attempting to cut the wage bill. Raphinha has played regularly this season, with nine goals and nine assists in 41 appearances, but he is claimed to be unhappy at not starting in his preferred right-hand side position and Newcastle could take advantage of the situation.
Meanwhile, Turkish outlet A Spor (via Sport Witness) are reporting that the North East club have dispatched a scout to Istanbul to watch Fenerbahce take on Istanbulspor on Monday night.
The focus of their attention will be Fenerbahce duo Guler and Kadioglu. Guler, 18, is a right-sided midfielder while 23-year-old Kadioglu is a right-back who can also fill in on the opposite side.
Both are Turkish internationals and key players for the Super Lig side but the report states Fenerbahce would be ready to sell the pair for a combined fee of €45million (£39.8m).
Howe and Newcastle’s director of football Dan Ashworth successfully argued with the club’s owners to abandon their cautious approach to the transfer window this summer, according to the Telegraph. A modest budget of £20m plus player sales was set aside but those plans have been scrapped with the Magpies now ready to spend big in a bid to continue with the rapid progress they have made in the last 18 months.
Speaking after the humbling of Spurs, Howe said: “You don't expect that. The quality of our finishing was incredible. They weren't stick-on goals. We were lethal in front of goal. Everything about our first half an hour was where we want to be.”
He added: “Since I walked through the door here the players have responded so well. I can't thank them enough.”
