Newcastle transfer news: Howe learned £31m price tag after agent enquiry

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Newcastle United faced a substantial asking price to beat Paris Saint-Germain to a transfer for Zenit St Petersburg star Malcom. The Toon explored a swoop for the winger in January.

That is according to Foot Mercato, which reports Zenit wanted €30-35m (£27-31m) to sell Malcom in the mid-season market. The Gazprom Arena outfit believed they could demand so much for the 25-year-old as he only agreed on a new contract through to 2027 last July.

Zenit’s valuation ultimately ensured Malcom would remain in Russia once the winter sales slammed shut. He wanted to quit the Premier Liga side for PSG but the Ligue 1 giants were not as keen. Even after the Brazilian offered his services to the Parc des Princes hierarchy.

Newcastle also contacted Malcom’s agent to enquire into a possible transfer for the Zenit forward this January. Eddie Howe was open to bringing the attacker to the Premier League to bolster his frontline. But the Toon’s efforts did not gain as much traction as PSG’s chase.

PSG led Newcastle for the January transfer of Zenit forward Malcom

Paris Saint-Germain never closed the door entirely on a transfer as they considered adding another winger this January. But they only wanted to sign Malcom on loan due to Financial Fair Play concerns. Any move would have featured an option to buy the £108k-a-week ace.

Zenit would not have opposed the initial loan transfer for Malcom providing that PSG’s bid included an obligation to buy. They did not plan to stand in his way after Malcom informed Zenit of his wish to join PSG after talks between his agent and the Ligue 1 side’s leadership.

Negotiations between Zenit and PSG persisted to try and close the gap between the club’s positions. Yet their talks failed to lead to a deal and the Parc des Princes hierarchy moved to target Hakim Ziyech. But they would ultimately fail to sign the winger from Chelsea, as well.

Newcastle or PSG could now revive their interest in a transfer with Zenit for Malcom in the summer. The Sao Paulo native is likely to have a wealth of suitors at the end of this season, however. He has hit 15 goals and seven assists over 23 games in all competitions this term.