On Monday, we relayed claims from Argentina that Newcastle United were in talks to sign Máximo Perrone from Vélez.
The defensive midfielder has been a star for the Primera División side over the course of the season, and attracted interest from the Magpies with his performances.
Echoes of a potential move from Newcastle started last week, and it appears Eddie Howe’s side took it to the next level over the past few days, with negotiations already underway.
No bid appears to have been made just yet, but César Luis Merlo’s claims are continued by the Argentine media on Tuesday, with both Diario Popular and Olé backing them up.
The first of the two state Newcastle are ‘determined to sign’ Perrone and have ‘already started negotiating with the leaders of Vélez and Rolando Zárate’, the player’s agent and brother of Mauro.
Despite the midfielder having a €9m clause, it was previously agreed by ‘not to raise that amount’, meaning that any club would have to negotiate a higher fee.
This is why a deal could be struck at €14m, described as a fee Newcastle ‘would be willing to pay’.
Olé have similar information, who point out Newcastle have now gone ‘all the way’, having ‘enquired about the conditions’, which Vélez have laid out.
Newcastle would therefore be ‘willing to put out between €12-13m’ for Perrone, which is close enough to what Diario Popular are saying to suggest that if the Magpies do sign the midfielder, it will be for a chunk more than his release clause.
There is also an ‘agreement between the player’s entourage and the club that they sell if a good offer arrives’.
This appears to be what Newcastle will be putting on the table.
