Newcastle United are at it again in the transfer market, and this time they have got their sights set on a teenager from Ajax who has reportedly arrived for a medical ahead of a move to the Premier League. When a player is turning up for a medical, you know it is pretty much done and dusted, so barring any last minute nonsense, the Magpies look set to have a new face through the door very soon.
Now Ajax, for all their financial struggles in recent years, have always had a reputation for producing top quality young players. Their academy is the stuff of legend and they have been churning out serious talent for decades. So when Newcastle come knocking for one of their teenagers, it is worth sitting up and paying attention. Eddie Howe does not exactly splash the cash on players without a good reason.
Newcastle have been building something really interesting under Howe and the Saudi ownership, and bringing in hungry young talent from top European academies fits the model perfectly. They are not just buying established names for the sake of it. They seem to be thinking long term, which is admirable and honestly a little bit irritating from a Manchester United fan's perspective given how our own recruitment has gone at times.
The move also says something about Newcastle's pulling power right now. A few years ago, convincing a teenager from one of Europe's most respected clubs to head to Tyneside might have been a tough sell. These days Newcastle are genuinely attractive. Champions League football, a clear project, a manager who develops players. It all adds up.
Obviously until we know exactly who this player is and what they are expected to bring, it is hard to go too deep into what it means on the pitch. But the direction of travel for Newcastle is clear and another promising young addition only strengthens that. Toon fans will be excited, and rightly so.
Let me know your thoughts.