Sao Paulo are ready to negotiate the sale of Pablo Maia for around £13 million as Newcastle United join Premier League rivals Fulham and West Ham in the race for his signature.
On Friday morning, reports emerged suggesting that Eddie Howe’s Champions League-bound side were closing in on their first signing of the summer. Yankuba Minteh, an ‘extraordinary’ talent nicknamed ‘Messi’ due to his lethal left foot, is joining from Odense BK in a deal worth £6 million.
Whether Pablo Maia joins him at Newcastle United, only time will tell.
Brazilian reporter Jorge Nicola, via on his YouTube channel, admits to having conversations with the midfielder’s agent. According Junior Pedroso allegedly informed him that Newcastle have now joined the race for a player who was the subject of bids from both Fulham and West Ham some six months ago.
“What Junior told me is that Pablo Maia has been the target of a Newcastle scout,” Nicola explains.
Newcastle United now in Pablo Maia race
A 21-year-old, tough-tackling enforcer; Maia is one of the most exciting young midfielders in Brazil. The youngster only recently signed a new deal until 2027, but Sao Paulo are still willing to listen to offers with bids in the region of £13 million reportedly enough to twist their arm, according to Globo Esporte.
The Sao Paulo board reportedly believe that Maia is ‘ready’ to head across the Atlantic. What’s more, the Brazilian giants always planned to negotiate a sale from the beginning of this month, having turned down a number of bids during the winter window.
Fulham failed with a £6.5 million offer of their own, while West Ham attempted to take Maia on an initial loan deal.
“I’m not afraid to say that Pablo Maia is the most coveted player in our squad right now,” says Sao Paulo director Carlos Belmonte. “(For) Pablo Maia, we have polls almost daily. Mainly from English football. English clubs understand that he (would) adapt very well to the English game.
“He is a very valuable player today. And I can assure you that we have already turned down important offers for Pablo Maia.”
Sao Paulo ace ‘dreams’ of move
Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, meanwhile, admitted this week that a new midfielder is a priority heading into the summer. The departure of Jonjo Shelvey in January leaves a hole which Maia could fill (Northern Echo).
“Pablo plays as the (deep-lying) midfielder. He gives security to our defence,” explains Sao Paulo chief Muricy Ramalho. “He has a good pass too. He’s not just about marking (opposition forwards).
“Nowadays, the midfielder has to play too, and he has a good pass. Of course, he does the simple things but he keeps the ball, which is what (head coach) Rogerio (Ceni) wants. He gives stability to Sao Paulo.”
Maia, meanwhile, admits that he ‘dreams’ of a move to Europe sooner rather than later.
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