Newcastle United agree first summer signing - set to be made official next week
Newcastle United have already agreed their first summer signing and sources in Spain say it’ll be made official next week.
Malaga winger Antonio Cordero will officially join Newcastle United next week, according to sources in Spain.
Newcastle have been in talks with Cordero and his representatives since the turn of the year ahead of the 18-year-old’s contract expiring this summer.
The Magpies faced strong competition from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Portuguese side Porto, but Cordero has agreed to move to the North East of England.
Cordero and his family were given a tour of St James’ Park and the club’s facilities earlier this year.
Antonio Cordero set to join Newcastle United next week
Malaga still have two games left to play with their 2024-25 season not finishing until May 31. Cordero himself isn’t officially out of contract until June 30.
However, Spanish publication MARCA writes that Cordero will “officially become a Magpies player in a week at the latest. No more.”
Cordero is set to pen a five-year contract until June 2030, though is expected to spend his first year out on loan.
Newcastle United expected to loan out Antonio Cordero
Newcastle adopted a similar approach with Yankuba Minteh, who they signed from Danish side Odense Boldklub for £7million before quickly loaning him to Feyenoord for the 2023-24 campaign.
Eddie Howe had planned to integrate Minteh into the first-team squad last summer but was instead sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £33m to help the club comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
It has been suggested that Ajax are leading the race for Cordero, however according to Spanish news outlet Fundo Segunda, Malaga want to re-sign him on loan next season in an agreement they believe suits all parties.
Cordero first broke into Malaga’s ‘B-team’ and caught the eye in the Spanish fifth tier - scoring 12 goals in 17 appearances. He has also been capped for Spain at under-18s and under-19s level.
The teenager has since established himself as a regular in Malaga’s first team since making his debut in 2023. In 37 La Liga 2 appearances this campaign, he has scored six goals and provided seven assists.
Newcastle United scouting Europe for top young talent
Paul Mitchell was appointed as Newcastle’s sporting director last summer and although he is yet to make a major signing at first-team level, the former Monaco chief has been busy identifying young players with high potential.
Newcastle have already agreed to sign Dinamo Tbilisi forward Vaktang Salia, with a move set to be made official when he turns 18 in August. In January, Turkish midfielder Baran Yildiz arrived from Genclerbirligi.
Speaking about the importance of signing young talent, Mitchell said: “Scouting and recruiting emerging talent is an essential part of building a sustainable future, particularly within the current PSR framework, so the market is fiercely competitive.
"We continue to scout extensively, both domestically and overseas, with a view to securing players who can come through our talent pathway and, ideally, become part of the first team in future.”