Ashworth now preparing Newcastle bid to sign £21m sensation, he's Luis Diaz 2.0 - opinion

An update has emerged on Newcastle and their pursuit of Braga’s Roger Fernandes in the summer transfer window…

According to A Bola, via Sport Witness, the Magpies are preparing to table a bid for the young winger that could reach €25m (£21m) if all add-ons are met.

The report claims that the Portuguese side have already turned down offers from other clubs and it remains to be seen if they will be tempted by this latest attempt.

It is claimed that the player is unlikely to be able to move to St. James’ Park until he is 18 and this means that Dan Ashworth could complete a deal before loaning him back to his current team for another two years.

By signing Fernandes from Braga this summer, even if it means waiting two years to see him in England, Newcastle can land the next Luiz Diaz to grace the Premier League.

Liverpool snapped up the Colombian winger from Porto in January and he hit the ground running in the top-flight as he caught the eye alongside the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota. In 13 league outings, he averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.23 as he registered four goals and three assists from out wide.

The attacker adapted to the division with ease and made an instant impact for Jurgen Klopp as he proved his worth in the final third.

Fernandes can now follow in his footsteps in terms of being a winger from the Portuguese league who comes to the Premier League and showcases his quality at the top end of the pitch.

The 16-year-old has shown immense potential by breaking into the Braga first team at such a young age. He made seven top-flight appearances in 2021/22 and found the back of the net twice, despite averaging 18 minutes per game.

Now, imagine the numbers he could produce with another two years