Newcastle United are positively heading into the final days of the summer transfer window after securing an impressive 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Matthias Jaissle picked up his first Premier League victory as Magpies boss, with Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa both finding the net in the second half in north London.
Newcastle had to withstand some home pressure before the break, with goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek making a number of saves, but they were far more clinical after the interval.
Elanga opened the scoring just after the hour mark before Wissa added a second ten minutes later to wrap up the three points and cap off a solid performance.
Now after, that victory, Newcastle’s work in the transfer market may not be finished. The Magpies have already strengthened their squad significantly this summer, with Nico Gonzalez among the latest arrivals following his move from Manchester City.
Fabrizio Romano did indicate that Newcastle are still expected to add another attacking player before the transfer deadline and one player who has been consistently linked with a move to St James’ Park is Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Newcastle closing in on Fernandez-Pardo transfer
Newcastle have been in talks over a potential deal for the Belgium international, although Lille’s valuation has made things difficult. Reports in France suggested that Lille are demanding around €70m for the 21-year-old, while Newcastle have been prepared to go as high as approximately €60m.
Now, according to journalist Santi Aouna on Sunday, “Newcastle are close to an agreement with Lille for Fernandez-Pardo” after the Magpies “stepped up” discussions.
No figure is mentioned, but it looks as if it is a matter of when and not if the Belgium international will be a Newcastle player. One of the biggest attractions of Fernandez-Pardo is his versatility, which could make him particularly useful for Jaissle.
|
What Fernandez-Pardo brings |
2025/26 Ligue 1 stat |
What it means |
|---|---|---|
|
Goals |
8 |
Adds another player capable of contributing directly in the final third |
|
Assists |
5 |
Shows he can create as well as finish chances |
|
Versatility |
LW/RW/ST |
Can cover all three positions across the front line |
|
Regular starter |
27 starts in 29 league games |
Shows he was trusted as a key first-team player |
|
Availability |
2,379 league minutes |
Played a substantial role across the season |
|
Chance creation |
86th percentile among forwards |
Suggests he offers more than just goals |
|
Overall performance |
7.16 average rating |
Indicates a consistently strong league campaign |
|
Age/upside |
21 years old |
Could improve considerably while retaining strong resale value |
He’s capable of playing on either wing or through the middle as a striker, something former Lille teammate Thomas Meunier, now at rivals Sunderland, has previously highlighted.
Speaking about Fernandez-Pardo, Meunier praised his ability to play in support, attack space behind defenders and beat opponents with the ball, describing Fernandez-Pardo as a “true soldier” because of his mentality and willingness to work.
All the signs are showing exactly why Jaissle and PIF are pursuing the 21-year-old, and after a turbulent few months, it is looking like an extremely positive end to the summer both on and off the pitch at St James’ Park.