Rafa Benitez makes move for £16m striker – & the player’s ‘excited’ to join NUFC – Report

According to the Chronicle, Rafa Benitez has now made ‘direct contact’ over a £16m deal for Club Brugge star Wesley Moraes – and the player is said to be ‘excited’ by the prospect of joining NUFC.

Our interest in the Brazilian striker was confirmed by the players agent just last week, however he himself stated that Rafa Benitez’s future may need to be sorted before any move would be considered.

A few days later and the Chronicle now claim that Benitez has made his move – suggesting his hopes of signing a new deal may have been ‘boosted’.

Here’s a snippet from their latest piece on the £16-rated striker:

‘Hopes of Rafa Benitez signing a new deal at Newcastle United have been boosted by claims the manager is making personal contact with transfer targets.

‘Sources close to Brazilian striker Wesley Moraes have told Chroniclelive there has been ‘direct contact’ with the forward and his team, and Benitez – even though the Spaniard is yet to sign a new contract at United.

‘It is thought a £16million bid would be enough to bring Moraes to Tyneside from Belgian side Club Brugge, and while Italian side Lazio are also in contact, he is keen to play in the Premier League and is ‘excited’ by the prospect of playing in the black-and-white shirt.‘

Wesley bagged 17 goals and 10 assists last season for Club Brugge, with the 22-year-old not only fitting our current transfer policy but appearing to be the sort of big but mobile striker that would fit well in Benitez’s system.

Time will tell if anything comes of this, but claims that Benitez is now making moves in the transfer market suggest he could be closer to signing a new deal than we think..

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