Newcastle United defender Federico Fernandez is heading for Spain and La Liga strugglers Elche CF, unless Championship side Stoke City can hijack his deadline day loan departure.
Newcastle ace Federico Fernandez heading for Elche loan unless Stoke hijack deal
According to The Guardian (01/09, 10:39), Elche CF are set to sign Federico Fernandez on loan from Newcastle United. Eddie Howe is prepared to let the defender leave St James’ Park on deadline day, having slipped down the pecking order after Sven Botman’s arrival.
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Fernandez remains a hugely popular presence in the dressing room on Tyneside, but faces a season on the sidelines. Newcastle figures view the 33-year-old as an extremely positive influence in the first-team fold, but accept he has a desire to secure more regular minutes.
Elche are heading the list of clubs interested in signing Fernandez on loan from Newcastle ahead of Thursday’s deadline. But the La Liga strugglers face late competition from Stoke City, with Alex Neil studying a last-ditch bid after replacing Michael O’Neill at the Potters.
Stoke sacked O’Neill and swiftly turned to Neil last week after seeing the former Preston North End boss guide Sunderland to promotion into the Championship. The Potters opted to sack O’Neill just five games into the second-tier season, having won in just one fixture.
Neil now feels Fernandez can help improve his backline, which has shipped nine goals over their first seven league fixtures. But Stoke must overcome Elche in the race to sign the 32-cap Argentina international, with Francisco hoping to move Los Franjiverdes up the table.
Federico Fernandez is nearing the end of his contract at St James’ Park
Elche have endured a tough start to the La Liga campaign to rank 17th after the first three games. The Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero side are also yet to win, while conceding five goals to one scored ahead of a trip to Villarreal on Sunday – when Fernandez could debut.
Newcastle signed Fernandez from Swansea City back in August 2018 for £6m under Rafa Benitez. He has since amassed 89 appearances with the Magpies, but has not featured in the Premier League since last December and has not made a matchday squad this season.
Fernandez could now head to Spain to sign for Elche unless Stoke make Newcastle a better package for the £47.5k-a-week star. The defender – who Toon captain Jamaal Lascelles has previously praised – is under contract at St James’ to 2023 with an option for another year.
“Feddy is a top centre-half,” Lascelles said, as quoted by Chronicle Live. “He is experienced, he’s played in the Premier League for a long time and you can really tell with how he plays.
“His covering, his positioning – everything is spot on. When balls go in behind, he knows when to react. We work well together and really bounce off each other quite well.”
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