Newcastle join race for Brazilian starlet – Club demanding €20-25m for wonderkid

Newcastle United have joined the race for Santos wonderkid Marcos Leonardo, according to reports from Brazil.

UOL writes that the Magpies are the ‘newest’ club to go after the striker, and have already made the first contacts for the signing.

Newcastle are said to be studying the ‘best strategy’ to get Marcos Leonardo signed, and Santos are already aware of the approach.

It’s said the Brazilian club ‘dream’ of making between €20m and €25m with the sale next year.

Marcos Leonardo is definitely one of the big talents coming out of Brazil. He’d been in talks for a transfer to Lazio and Roma last summer, but with Santos agreeing the sales of Angelo and Deivid Washington to Chelsea, he ended up being held by the club.

That’s why there’s a promise that the 20-year-old will be sold once the Brazilian season is over. So even though he could be worth more, they won’t force him to stay.

Marcos Leonardo has 21 goals in 42 appearances for Santos this season. He’s the league’s second top scorer, with 13 goals so far, and that’s a pretty good mark when playing for a club who are fighting relegation.