Newcastle make move for Ibrahim Maza - Report
Recent reports suggest Newcastle have allocated their 'biggest budget yet' to recruit hidden gems after signing Yankuba Minteh last summer and striking a deal to bring in Georgian talent Vakhtang Sallia next year.
Another has now been linked via the German media, this time a highly-rated teenage talent who has been playing and impressing in the 2.Bundesliga this season.
We would do well to learn from the loss of Minteh if we are to futureproof our squad, with a number of first team players pushing on in their years - but who is the latest youngster linked with a Tyneside switch.
Newcastle make Maza move?
According to SportBild, Newcastle United and Brentford have both been in contact with Hertha Berlin over the signing of 19-year-old talent Ibrahim Maza.
The German paper also states that Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart are also keen on the attacking midfielder, suggesting we'd face plenty of competition for his signature.
The starlet is believed to be available for a fee in the €10-20m bracket, with Newcastle already proving willing to invest in young talent in this region with the signing of William Osula for £10m in the summer of 2024.
The Algerian may prove to be a smarter investment, with his continental interest of little surprise. Starting all 15 league games for struggling Hertha this season, the young midfielder has netted five goals and four assists for the lowly 11th placed former Bundesliga regulars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY9g4vME-cs&ab_channel=360edition
Unearthing gems key to Mitchell's recruitment plans?
Possibly available on a cut-price deal due to Hertha’s promotion ambitions looking increasingly unlikely, the once German youth-capped teenager is signed to CAA Stellar Agency - the same as Nick Pope and Osula which perhaps lends well to a cheap deal.
One of the standout performers in the German second tier this season, it would be nice to see Maza push for a first team place if he was to make the switch to black-and-white. But, as his stock continues to rise, he may be able to help with Newcastle’s seemingly ever present PSR headache.
It would feel somewhat unambitious to sign him purely based on this preface, though Paul Mitchell and co. may look to be building a system akin to that of Brighton. Buy low, sell high, in order to finance more standout deals.
