An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United's interest in Roger Fernandes in the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to A Bola (via Football Insider), the Magpies are prepared to make an offer to sign the teenage Portuguese attacker ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that Atletico Madrid are plotting a bid to sign the youngster but that the Toon are able to gazump the fee that the La Liga club can send Braga's away.

It is stated that the player has a release clause of €40m (£34m), but the report gives no indication as to how much Newcastle are willing to offer for the 16-year-old.

Miguel Almiron upgrade

By landing the talented youngster, the Magpies could land an upgrade on one of their underperforming players in Miguel Almiron.

The Paraguay international has quite simply not been good enough for the club. In the Premier League last term, the winger scored one goal and failed to register a single assist in 30 games, starting 19.

He averaged an unimpressive SofaScore rating of 6.68 and created 0.6 chances per game as he struggled to make a meaningful impact at the top of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Roger has already shown glimpses of his quality in Braga's first team, scoring three goals in 11 outings for the club at senior level. This came after he managed five goals and one assist in 15 matches for their under-23s last season.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him one of Braga's "interesting" talents and he was called a "wonder-kid" by journalist Jacque Talbot, which is backed up by his progression at such a young age.

The gem can play on either wing and has shown that he has the quality to make an impact in the final third. At the age of 16, Eddie Howe can help him to hone his skills and develop more consistency in his game as he gains more experience at the top level, with his form for Braga suggesting that he has the ability to become a useful player.

If he can fulfill his potential and continue to score goals from out wide, he would arrive at Newcastle as an upgrade on Almiron, who has shown that he does not offer much of a threat in the final third.

Roger is 12 years younger than the former Atlanta United man and is a player that the Magpies can nurture over the course of numerous seasons to come, which means that he could be an upgrade on Almiron now and for many years in the future.

AND in other news, Ashworth can seal "exciting" signing as NUFC eye swoop for £20m "generational talent"...