Newcastle United are signing Garang Kuol and seemingly already have a loan move to Portugal lined up for the Australian teenager.
You would think that the end of the summer transfer window would also bring an end to the rumour mill.
That just hasn’t happened though as Newcastle already appear to have their first signing of 2023 lined up.
Forget James Maddison or Joao Pedro though as Newcastle are instead focusing on a deal for Australian wonderkid Garang Kuol.
Newcastle United are signing Garang Kuol
Reports from beIN Sports in Australia suggested earlier this month that Newcastle were on the verge of signing Central Coast Mariners attacker Kuol.
It was stated that Kuol had already agreed a deal worth around £25,000-a-week with the Magpies.
The problem for Kuol and Newcastle is that he doesn’t yet quality for a work permit to play in England.
The 18-year-old has at least picked up a first Australia cap and may well feature at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
That will help but Kuol needs a loan move really and the Magpies already appear to have a destination lined up.
The Sydney Morning Herald report that sources indicate that Kuol is likely to be joining a Portuguese club on loan in January once his Newcastle deal is completed.
A move to the likes of Benfica, Porto, Sporting or even Braga seems a little unlikely at this stage in Kuol’s development.
The likes of Boavista, Santa Clara, Portimonense and Famalicao may be more realistic though, whilst it’s worth noting that Pacos de Ferreira previously signed an Australian winger on loan in Awer Mabil.
Hailed as an ‘unbelievable’ talent by Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez, Kuol looks set for stardom but he faces a spell in Portugal before shining at Newcastle.
Kuol’s rise and planned moves feel similar to that of Daniel Arzani in 2018.
Arzani also emerged before a World Cup and featured for Australia in Russia back in 2018 before Manchester City signed him and loaned him to Celtic.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
Arzani just hasn’t impressed wherever he has been since that move to City, struggling on loan at Celtic, FC Utrecht, AGF and Lommel.
The 23-year-old already feels like a case of wasted potential and is back in Australia with Macarthur FC.
Arzani has told The Sydney Morning Herald that Kuol needs minutes but must realise that loan clubs ‘don’t really care’ about your development.
Arzani admitted that he made bad decisions in the early stages of his career and wants Kuol to learn from those errors.
It will be Newcastle rather than Manchester City for Kuol, but only time will tell whether it’s the right move for him.
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