With Steve Bruce (Or Bruno Genesio according to claims in France) set to take the manager’s job at Newcastle United, the club can now turn their attention to adding to the squad.
A striker is likely to be the top of their list given they’ve lost both of their top goalscorers from last season and are yet to replace them.
That’s seen the Magpies linked with a move for Joelinton this week, with several sources in the British media claiming a move was close to being completed.
Indeed, it was something that was causing a stir back in Brazil as we covered the excitement over the move, particularly from those clubs who were set to make something of a financial windfall.
Kicker have covered his future today and it seems that things may not be as advanced as was first reported.
The German newspaper reports that the Hoffenheim striker is currently with the Bundesliga side at their training ground in Zuzenhausen and that the Brazilian is set to join his teammates on their training camp in Windischgarsten.
Furthermore, according to their information, ‘a rapid departure of the 22-year-old is not to be expected.’
They explain that even though Newcastle are keen, Hoffenheim don’t have to sell. They’ve already sold Kerem Demirbay and Nico Shulz this summer so are not short on cash, and are therefore in a position to say no.
The paper ever questions whether €40m is enough to tempt the Bundesliga club to sell given sporting director Alexander Rosen was ‘far-sighted’ enough to get Joelinton to sign a new deal until 2022 last year.
They do concede that if an ‘insane’ offer comes in then Hoffenheim will have to consider it but that’s just how the transfer market works. Until such an offer arrives from Newcastle, it seems this transfer won’t be moving forward.
