Newcastle United are yet to taste defeat in 2026, when playing in both the FA Cup and Premier League.
The wins haven’t been straightforward, though, as the Toon needed two late goals to overcome the stern test of Leeds United last time out in league action.
Moreover, a penalty shootout would end up separating Eddie Howe‘s men and AFC Bournemouth over the weekend, after the enthralling Cup game had ended 3-3 after extra time.
Amazingly, despite all the goals flowing, Newcastle are being linked to some new exciting forward additions this month…
Newcastle can sign exciting attacker for £20m
Howe would state at the close of the entertaining win over the Cherries that it was very much a spectacle for the “neutral”, as the Toon continue to stick out as a free-flowing watch in the attacking areas.
As long as the victories keep coming their way, Howe won’t mind the gung-ho approach from his players, with Newcastle now being tipped to add slick Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Mateus Mane to make their forward ranks even more devastating.
Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder is also reporting that the Premier League’s entertainers could soon land rising Vasco De Gama star Rayan Vitor for only £20m, with the 19-year-old continuing to be tracked by those on Tyneside.
The report states that new scout Thomas Federspiel is scouring South America for some hidden gems, with Rayan sticking out in this regard, who was once rumoured to have an audacious £69m release clause built into his contract.
Yet, more realistically, £20m could be enough to win the Brazil U20s regular, as the Northern giants potentially pick up an even bigger talent than man of the moment Harvey Barnes, by pursuing a deal for the Rio de Janeiro-born starlet.
How Rayan compares to Barnes
Right now, it’s hard to name a force that’s performing as impressively as Barnes across the entire Newcastle ranks.
Indeed, the former Leicester City winger has been a man possessed over the past couple of games, with a ridiculous four goals heading his way across the space of four days when collecting dramatic braces versus both Leeds and Bournemouth.
The FA-Cup-winning forward is now leading the way as the Toon’s top goalscorer in all competitions with 11 strikes next to his name.
Staggeringly, however, Rayan – back in his native Brazil – has an eye-catching 20 goals to shout about across 2025, as the teenage sensation continues to live up to his “game-changing” label that was once handed to him by his Vasco manager in Fernando Viniz.
With Barnes nine years his senior, the worry will surely be whether the number 11 has it in him long-term to keep up his blistering levels, with the 28-year-old also prone to recurring injury issues, having missed a substantial 38 games for the Toon over the three seasons he has been at the club, owing to extended periods in the treatment room.
On the contrary, Rayan is only just getting started in his native Brazil, potentially blossoming into an even bigger talent when stepping foot on English soil, with the Vasco number 77 previously on the radar of Liverpool and Manchester United for his devastating exploits at the Maracanã Stadium.
|
Rayan’s numbers for Vasco by position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Games |
Goals + Assists |
|
RM |
27 |
8 + 1 |
|
CF |
22 |
9 + 0 |
|
RW |
16 |
3 + 0 |
|
SS |
2 |
0 |
|
LW |
1 |
0 |
|
Sourced by Transfermarkt |
||
Described as a “technical powerhouse” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Rayan also has Barnes beaten in terms of their versatile natures as attackers, with the 19-year-old more than confident to interchange between right winger and striker duties if needed, as seen in him putting away nine of his 23 career goals for the Black Shirts, from a centre-forward role.
The Premier League forward only has five career appearances as a striker himself, with his preferred spot on the pitch definitely coming down the left wing.
Howe would love to get his hands on another young talent that’s just ready to explode into life in England, having garnered a reputation for being a manager well-versed in getting the very best out of the next generation, as seen in Lewis Miley becoming a first-team regular recently.
While Barnes is the daring attacking star the Toon are relying upon at the moment, Rayan could end up surpassing the one-time England international down the line if he swaps Brazil for Tyneside.
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