Newcastle United are reportedly on the verge of triumphing over Barcelona in the race to sign FC Basel forward Arthur Cabral.
According to El Nacional, Newcastle United could beat Barcelona in the pursuit of Arthur Cabral. The 23-year-old FC Basel striker has emerged as a hot prospect in the market, with multiple clubs ready to snap him up in the upcoming January transfer window.
One of the major clubs interested in Cabral is FC Barcelona. The Catalan giants are confident that they can seal the deal for the Brazilian forward for a fee of just €20 million.
However, the report suggests Newcastle United are ready to hijack the deal by offering a whopping €30 million to Basel while preparing a bumper contract for Cabral, in an attempt to lure him to Tyneside. Formerly of Palmeiras, it appears Cabral has been identified as the ideal man to spearhead the Newcastle United attack during the second half of the campaign.
Following the massive takeover earlier in the season, the club was hoping to attract the biggest players across the world in January. But their appalling league position has made them an undesirable option for most star players across Europe, with many believing that the Magpies are destined to get relegated come May. And in an attempt to avoid such a scenario, Newcastle are identifying more realistic targets that can help them get over the line.
That is where Arthur Cabral comes into the fray. Having netted a whopping 63 goals in 101 competitive appearances since joining Basel in 2020, the Brazilian has emerged as one of the hottest attacking prospects among the lower-rated leagues in Europe. His success has not gone unnoticed, with even Barcelona considering a January swoop for the 23-year-old.
Although the Catalans were primarily targeting a star forward in January, their financial woes have forced them to look for cost-effective options in the market, with Cabral emerging as an ideal target.
However, it appears the Basel forward could be on the verge of a move to the Premier League in January. After Newcastle’s lucrative offer, his agent has already notified Barcelona that they need to put an improved bid on the table in order to snap up the 23-year-old, giving the Catalans a major dilemma ahead of the January transfer window.
It remains unlikely that Joan Laporta will agree to the new terms, though, considering the club’s financial status. Not to mention, Barcelona have no shortage of alternatives, with new coach Xavi also targeting a move for Al-Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah, among many other lesser-known stars across the world.
