Report: Newcastle wanted £25m man Guardiola called ‘fantastic’ but will sign another player instead

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Newcastle United have shown an interest in Manchester City’s £25 million-rated left-back Angelino, according to the Sun (8 September, page 54).

While the diminutive Spaniard didn’t exactly set the world alight at Premier League level after returning to the Etihad last summer following a superb spell in Holland, he still fits Steve Bruce’s brief quite nicely.

The Newcastle boss has prioritised players with a proven track record in the top flight of English football, landing Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson and former Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick this summer already.

The Sun claims that Angelino, who is valued at £25 million, was another name on Newcastle’s radar.

Although, with the former PSV Eindhoven flyer returning for a second spell at RB Leipzig and, with Jamal Lewis closing in on a move to Newcastle from Norwich City, the door to St James’ Park appears to have slammed shut for Angelino.

Lewis, at £13.5 million, is not only the cheaper option but a fine left-back with huge potential. The Chronicle reports that the Irishman should undergo a medical sooner rather than later.

Angelino, meanwhile, was a revelation as Leipzig reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, producing assists against both Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

In truth, it seems a little strange that Pep Guardiola did not hand him a run of games at the Etihad, especially when you consider that Benjamin Mendy is never far away from a spell on the sidelines, while neither Joao Cancelo or Oleksandr Zinchencko are natural left-backs.

“In training every day he’s fantastic,” Guardiola told City’s official website.

“(Angelino) played incredible in Eindhoven. We know his quality upfront – in the final third he is so clever, and he is doing good and he played well.”