Newcastle United are reportedly planning to make an offer for 17-year-old Santos wonderkid Angelo Gabriel.
According to a report from Esport IG, Newcastle United are ready to step up their interest in Santos winger Angelo Gabriel and are planning to submit an offer to secure the services of the 17-year-old attacking prodigy.
Earlier this month, Newcastle were linked to the Brazilian teenager, with reports claiming that the Magpies have been keeping a close eye on the forward, who is also being monitored by Barcelona. But it appears the Toon have stolen a march over the Blaugrana, and they are now set to make an offer for him, having already spoken with his representation about the possibility of a summer transfer.
From Pele to Neymar, Santos has produced some of the finest footballers in Brazil’s history, and Angelo Gabriel appears to be the next big thing on the production line. At just 17 years old, he is already heralded as one of the crown jewels at the club, who ideally would not want to sell the youngster after he recently signed a contract until 2024.
But they could be forced into sales to generate revenue and could be willing to conduct business for the forward, but only at the right price, as they seek financial stability.
Angelo has enjoyed a rapid rise to Santos’ first team and already has over 70 senior appearances for the Peixe. He is making a name for breaking records in Brazil, being the youngest-ever goalscorer in the Copa Libertadores and the third-youngest player to play for Santos, as well as recently earning a call-up to the Brazil Under-17 side, with many anticipating him to take the next step by moving to Europe soon.
It appears Newcastle United are not only hunting for first-team stars but are also exploring the possibility of enhancing their youth setup with high-quality acquisitions. They have already bolstered the club’s youth ranks by the signing of 17-year-old defender Alex Murphy from Galway United and are closing in on acquiring Kilmarnock’s Charlie McArthur, who has already agreed to personal terms with the club.
The Magpies already boast a strong contingent of South American players in their first team, having invested heavily in the likes of Joelinton, Miguel Almiron and Bruno Guimaraes in recent windows, with chief scout Steve Nickson delegated to look for talents from the continent. And that investment could pay dividends, as they can now attract top prospects from the region with Angelo on their radar.
Standing at 5ft 8in, the left-footed winger predominantly plays off the right before looking to cut inside, but his flexibility has been identified as one of his major strengths, allowing him to operate comfortably down the left as well.
Angelo Gabriel is pacy, and skilled and possesses exceptional dribbling ability, along with the natural flair one associates with Brazilian players. The 17-year-old, like Roger Fernandes, the Portuguese jewel linked to Newcastle, would not be eligible to move to England until he turns 18 years old next year owing to Brexit regulations, but it seems as though his destination could be Tyneside.
