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Newcastle enter race for £67,000-a-week star who Aston Villa are top contenders to sign

Dominic is a football journalist at Football FanCast with experience in breaking news, Premier League transfer reporting and coverage across the English football pyramid. A graduate of the University of Huddersfield, he earned a first-class honours degree in Sports Journalism in 2022 before establishing himself as a writer for several leading football publications.  

Throughout his career, Dominic has contributed to GiveMeSport, Sports Mole, The Transfer Tavern and Football FanCast, producing everything from exclusive transfer stories to matchday reporting. He has also worked in club media with FC Halifax Town and written for The Halifax Courier, gaining valuable experience covering football from inside and outside the professional game.
 

Dominic has interviewed numerous football figures, including Gus Poyet, Dean Saunders, Pete Wild, Gary Johnson and Phil Parkinson. A Tranmere Rovers supporter, he combines his professional reporting experience with a passion for football at every level of the English game.

REUTERS/Caean Couto

Newcastle United have now emerged as contenders to sign a "spectacular" player, but there is set to be competition from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

On the face of it, a move to Villa Park may be viewed as the more attractive option, considering Champions League football is on offer, but Newcastle will have the opportunity to leapfrog Unai Emery's side in the table on Monday night.

The Villans were held to a 1-1 draw against Fulham on Saturday, following a mistake from Zion Suzuki, which leaves them on 12 points, just one more than the Magpies, who are set to take on Everton at St. James' Park.

Matthias Jaissle's side will be looking to get revenge after being eliminated from the EFL Cup by the Toffees last time out, with the hosts running out 3-1 winners at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to book their place in the quarter-final.

Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle-2
REUTERS/Jon Super

Jaissle was left disappointed by his side's lack of cutting edge, and said ahead of Monday's fixture: "When it comes to scoring goals, we need to be more efficient out of so many occasions. How often we enter the box of Everton, there needs to be more than only one goal."

In the Premier League, Yoane Wissa in particular has struggled to convert chances into goals, with the 30-year-old missing double the number of big chances than any other player in the squad.

Ranking

Newcastle squad

Big chances missed

1.

Yoane Wissa

4

2.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo

2

3.

Sven Botman

1

3.

Joe Willock

1

3.

Harvey Barnes

1

3.

Jacob Murphy

1

As such, it may be a wise move for the Magpies to improve their attacking options this winter, and they are now in contention to sign a Real Madrid forward.

Newcastle battling Aston Villa in race for Endrick

endrick-brazil
REUTERS/Mike Segar

According to a report from Caught Offside, Newcastle have now entered contention to sign Endrick this January, and they hold a concrete interest in bringing in the Brazilian, who rakes in £67,000-a-week at the Bernabeu.

However, Aston Villa are top contenders to sign the 20-year-old, and there could be a plethora of other rival suitors to fend off, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Liverpool also named as interested parties.

The 20-year-old has struggled to hold down a place in Jose Mourinho's starting XI this season, making just four appearances in all competitions, but he has managed to amass one goal and one assist in two Champions League outings.

Quiz

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti has also praised the youngster, saying: "He has these amazing characteristics he has shown whenever he has a chance. His accuracy is off the charts, he's quick and he still has a lot to improve with the ball.

"But, wow, his dribbling, his runs, the shot he has, he could even score a second goal easily with that great strike off the post. He is just spectacular. Very young, but a very fast learner."

With Jaissle recently bemoaning his side's struggles on the front foot, Endrick could be the ideal addition to his squad this winter.

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