Newcastle are ready to make Matheus Cunha one of their top targets this summer, Confidential can reveal.
Multiple sources have confirmed the club’s interest in the Wolves star and he has admirers within the coaching set-up.
Cunha’s versatility is one of the attractions and staff believe he can play as a winger or No 9, or as a No 8 in their three-man midfield. He guarantees goals – he has 15 in all competitions this season – and it is felt he has the personality and skillset to thrive at St James’ Park, though there is a recognition they would need to work on his defensive contribution.
There is strong competition for Cunha’s signature, and a release clause of £62.5million will spark one of this summer’s biggest transfer tussles.
Newcastle would almost certainly need to make the Champions League to be in the running, both from a financial and appeal perspective, but the prospect of working under Eddie Howe and joining fellow Brazilians Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton works in their favour.
Every top Premier League club has been credited with an interest in Cunha in recent months and the 25-year-old represents an ambitious target for the Magpies. Staff have grown tired of players being linked with moves away and the interest in Cunha is a signal of their intent for next season. That is why insiders say Champions League qualification will be key to enacting their summer plans.
Newcastle are ready to make Wolves star Matheus Cunha one of their top targets this summer
Cunha is wanted by multiple Premier League clubs and is an ambitious target for the Magpies
Newcastle hope the prospect of playing with Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes will entice Cunha
ISAK UPDATE
There is a growing expectation in transfer circles that Alexander Isak will remain at the club next season, and this is supported by the attitude of potential targets.
Confidential has been told Newcastle’s chances of signing Liam Delap would be slim – because the Ipswich player’s camp believe Isak is staying.
Delap will be available for £30m if Ipswich are relegated from the Premier League, as is likely, and we reported last month that Newcastle have sent scouts to watch him in recent months.
However, the striker wants to join a club where he has a chance of being first-choice next season. Manchester United are interested and could offer that promise of game-time.
Newcastle, though, are determined to keep Isak and, with the word in the game being of no viable buyer at a fee that would likely approach £150m, transfer chiefs and agents have told us they expect him to stay on Tyneside, especially with three years to run on his contract.
Barcelona have been weighing up a move to make Isak a marquee signing ahead of their return to a redeveloped Nou Camp, and they watched the Swede at West Ham recently.
However, it was announced by La Liga chiefs last week that the Catalan club have failed the league’s financial fair play rules, casting fresh doubt on future spending.
For now, Newcastle are hoping Champions League qualification gives Isak the platform he wants and allows them to discuss fresh terms on his contract at the end of the season.
There is a growing expectation in transfer circles that Alexander Isak will remain at Newcastle
The camp of potential target Liam Delap, who may be available for £30m, believe Isak is staying
GORDON A GO-ER?
Anthony Gordon has made good progress in his recovery from severe bruising and has a chance of featuring against Manchester United on Sunday.
There were fears on Monday that the winger could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines when Eddie Howe said after the 3-0 win at Leicester that he had no timeframe on his return.
‘Anthony wasn’t close (to being available),’ said Howe. ‘He hasn’t been able to train with us yet. He’s still feeling the effects of that tackle with England. We hope we may see him soon but I’ve got no certainty on that.’
However, Confidential understands the news on Gordon has been more positive in recent days and it remains the belief that the problem is not serious.
The 24-year-old was forced off in the closing stages of England’s 2-0 win over Albania last month after taking a heavy knock on his hip. The impact resulted in bruising around his thigh and groin and kept him out of the trip to Leicester.
Gordon has 72 hours to prove his fitness ahead of the visit of United, a fixture in which he scored the only goal last season.
Anthony Gordon is closing in on a return from injury with the problem not thought to be serious
Gordon suffered severe bruising after taking a heavy knock on his hip with England last month
SPECIAL DAY FOR SPECIAL K
We can reveal Wor Flags are set to unveil a special tribute to Kevin Keegan this weekend – and they would love it if that helped inspire a win over Manchester United.
The group’s incredible work has continued this season, with Eddie Howe often referencing the impact their designs and messages have had on the team. Their stunning unfurling of a giant banner of Howe over the frontage of the Sandman Hotel during the Carabao Cup open-top bus parade was one of the highlights of the celebration.
It had been hoped Keegan could be present for the game in which his tribute was displayed, and meetings with club staff have taken place this season. He is due on Tyneside for a function this weekend but, as of this column’s publication, sources were playing down the chances of him being at St James’.
The former player and manager has not been to a game since he left under Mike Ashley in 2008 but had promised to return once the club ended their trophy drought. It may be that fans will have to wait until next season.
Wor Flags are set to unveil a special tribute to Kevin Keegan (pictured in 1994) this weekend
INTO AFRICA
Newcastle scouts have been at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this week, with recruitment supremo Steve Nickson leading the talent trawl.
Nickson’s presence is significant and Morocco and Tunisia are among the nations of particular interest, given many of their players are based in Europe and have dual nationality.
Sporting director Paul Mitchell wants the club to find the stars of tomorrow before they cost a premium, and tournaments such as this are seen as key in identifying those players.
Tunisia forward Anisse Saidi, 16, and Morocco winger Ilies Belmokhtar, 16, have starred in matches amid Newcastle’s presence. Saidi has already made his MLS debut for San Diego FC, and French-born Belmokhtar is on the books of Monaco, where Mitchell was formerly sporting director.
Newcastle scouts have been at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with sporting director Paul Mitchell keen for them to find the stars of tomorrow before they cost a premium
CATCH OF THE DAY
Finally, Bruno Guimaraes was spotted enjoying some time by the river this week, but it wasn’t on the Quayside.
Rather, the Newcastle captain joined kitman Ray Thompson and soft-tissue specialist Barrie Graham for a North-East fishing expedition.
We await an update from BBQ enthusiast Bruno as to whether he made it home with his tea.
Guimaraes was on a fishing trip with club staff Ray Thompson and Barrie Graham this week
TOON TEASER
Last week’s question included a previous answer that listed every Newcastle player who had appeared for England since 1996.
Remarkably, between winning the FA Cup in 1955 and 1996, only four others who weren’t listed were capped by the Three Lions while at Newcastle.
They were; Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald, Chris Waddle and Barry Venison.
This week’s puzzler is… Alan Shearer is Newcastle’s record Premier League scorer with 148 goals. Can you name the other FIVE players who have 10 or more whose surname begins with ‘S’?