Newcastle United have reportedly agreed personal terms with Rogerio over a move to St. James’ Park and are in negotiations with Sassuolo to finalise a deal.
According to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, Newcastle United have revived their interest in Brazilian left-back Rogerio and have discussed a potential January move with Sassuolo after already reaching an agreement on personal terms worth €2.5 million per year with the player.
With just under a week left in the transfer window, cash-rich Newcastle are yet to bring a central defender through the door to boost their leaky backline. However, it appears Eddie Howe is keen to strengthen his full-back options. Their first signing under the new regime was right-back Kieran Trippier, and Atalanta’s Robin Gosens emerged as a top target to bolster the ranks on the opposite flank.
Gosens made headlines after Newcastle had offered a lucrative contract to the German international. However, a move looks complicated, more so given that the 27-year-old is still sidelined with a hamstring injury and has missed the past four months.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Mitchel Bakker was shortlisted as the alternative, with reports suggesting Newcastle had submitted a £14.5 million bid to sign the 21-year-old. However, as per Galetti, Bakker was unsure about joining Newcastle despite an agreement in principle with Leverkusen. In the wake of Bakker’s collapsed move, the Magpies have now turned their attention towards Sassuolo full-back Rogerio.
Rogerio came through the youth ranks at Juventus before joining Sassuolo in 2016, originally on loan. The 24-year-old has continued his progress with the Neroverdi and has been a mainstay at the back, making 115 appearances so far. The player has managed to secure two assists in 19 games for the Italian outfit this season across all competitions.
Interestingly, Newcastle had almost completed a £12.5 million deal to bring Rogerio to St. James’ Park a couple of years ago. However, Newcastle backed down and instead opted for a player with Premier League experience in Jamal Lewis. The former Norwich City left-back has been inconsistent and has largely underwhelmed thus far in his Newcastle career.
Newcastle’s hunt to bring in a new left-back is bemusing given they already have plenty of options in Lewis, Paul Dummett, and Matt Ritchie. However, the Magpies’ determination to bring a left-sided defender reflects the general lack of quality in the department.
While Rogerio may not be as impressive a signing as Gosens or Bakker, he would be a decent addition at Newcastle. He has the athleticism, agility, and pace to burn down the left flank with his driving runs and has proven to be a fairly reliable defender, which can help shore up Newcastle’s porous defence.
As things stand, the Magpies have agreed a €2.5 million per year wage packet with the player and are in discussions with Sassuolo about a permanent move. The 24-year-old is under contract at the Mapei Stadium until the summer of 2024. There is no mention about the transfer fee involved, but a move could soon be completed.
