Newcastle United’s move for starlet ‘hijacked’ as Man City ‘agree’ to pay release clause

The final round of Premier League action in 2022 takes place this weekend and the January transfer window is set to open tomorrow.

For Newcastle United, who welcome Leeds United to St James’ Park today, it is expected to be a busy month as they reinforce their squad for the second half of the campaign. However, equally as important for Eddie Howe and his recruitment staff is building for the future as well as strengthening the first team.

The North East side have been heavily linked with a move for promising youngster Maximo Perrone, a 19-year old midfielder who plays for Velez Sarsfield in his native Argentina. However, their move for the starlet could have been hijacked by another Premier League side.

Team Talk reported yesterday that Newcastle were ‘big favourites’ to sign the teenager in January but Italian journalist and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has now claimed that Manchester City have swept in and agreed to pay the release clause in Perrone’s contract with the Primera Division club.

Romano said: “Manchester City are set to trigger the release clause for Vélez talent Máximo Perrone, worth $8m — here we go expected soon if all goes to plan. Argentinian midfielder born in 2003 is considered a huge talent. He’d join City after the Sudamericano Sub20.”

Although United will likely be disappointed to miss out on the reported target, who had also been linked with Wolves, they could still make a late challenge to Man City’s bid if they were to also trigger the midfielder’s release clause. However, if Romano’s latest information is correct it looks very much like Perrone is destined for the Etihad Stadium rather than St James’ Park.

An Argentine youth international who has been capped at Under 20 level, Perrone has spent his entire career with Velez Sarsfield and first broke into the senior squad this year. He has made 33 first team appearances for the Buenos Aires based club and scored his first professional goal in a Copa Libertadores match against Uruguayan side Nacional. His other two goals have come in his 15 Primera division appearances.