A general view of Newcastle United supporters waiting outside the stadium for news of the latest developments in the sale of the club to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund for 300 million-pound ($408 million) takeover in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England Thursday Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
According to reports, Newcastle United is nearing an agreement to sign Noni Madueke, a Chelsea wonderkid, in what could prove to be a major coup for the North East team.
Wayne Veysey of Football Insider reports that Madueke is the most likely arrival from the club’s shortlist of right flank targets because he has already agreed to personal terms with the Magpies.
The fact that Newcastle is looking for a right winger this summer has not been hidden. The Athletic and the Telegraph both reported in June that Eddie Howe was eager to improve that section of the field following the disappointing goal totals of Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy, who combined for only eight goals in all competitions the previous season.
Almiron was strongly linked to leaving St. James’ Park during the January transfer window. Although the Magpies ended up keeping him, it is believed that they would now be willing to let him go, as several Saudi Pro League teams are vying for his services.
Although a precise transfer fee between Chelsea and Newcastle has not yet been agreed upon, it seems increasingly likely that this will happen given that Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, the team’s new manager, rank higher at Stamford Bridge than Madueke. Newcastle is now in a good position to sign Madueke because they see him as a huge improvement over what they currently have in his position.
Madueke left Dutch powerhouse PSV for Chelsea in January 2023 after signing a £29 million contract. The winger, who won the U21 European Championship with Anthony Gordon and the Three Lions, has played for Chelsea in 46 games across all competitions, scoring nine goals and dishing out three assists.
The young player only started 13 games last season, thus the most of his games have come from the substitute bench. When he has played, though, he has been praised for his dribbling, quickness, and ability to go past defenses.
Madueke has many of the qualities that made Allan Saint-Maximin a beloved player on Tyneside, and since he is only 22 years old, has experience in the Premier League, and is eager to get better, he could follow in Anthony Gordon’s footsteps. Gordon scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists in the previous season to secure a spot in the senior England squad for Euro 2024.
Although the precise cost of Madueke has not yet been made public, rumors from our sister publication London World indicate that a sum of money around £40 million would be sufficient to complete the transaction. Madueke might become Stamford Bridge’s second summer acquisition, after left defender Lewis Hall ($28 million) was signed earlier in the transfer season.
