Newcastle United have their eye on Flamengo midfielder Evertton Araújo, and it’s turning into a real race now that his value is climbing fast. That always draws more attention from big clubs, and the Premier League sides are definitely taking notice.

Evertton’s just 22, but lately he’s become a huge part of Flamengo’s squad. Earlier this year, West Ham had him on their shortlist and valued him at around £10.2 million (€12m). That number’s outdated now. Reports in Brazil say a Bundesliga club is ready to offer nearly €20 million (£17m), which pretty much resets the market for anyone interested.

Behind the scenes, Flamengo aren’t standing still either. They’re looking at renewing his contract to add stronger clauses and protect themselves because they don’t control all his rights third division club Volta Redonda actually owns 30%. These ownership tangles always make deals trickier.

All this is going on as Newcastle’s interest grows. Brazilian news outlet Bolavip reports that Newcastle are now seriously considering a move. The club’s scouts have watched Evertton in both domestic and continental games, and there are already internal talks about whether they can go in for him in the next window.

He fits what Premier League teams love: a mix of physical power and calmness on the ball. Injuries at Flamengo, especially to key midfielders like Erick Pulgar and Jorginho (yeah, the one who played for Arsenal and Chelsea), gave Evertton his break in the starting eleven. He grabbed the chance, playing consistently well and earning more trust under coach Leonardo Jardim. Jardim keeps praising him publicly, talking about his discipline, composure, and how well he handles pressure.

“He’s a player I really like,” Jardim told UOL. “I told him not to lose possession and to play forward. He’s exactly the sort of player who succeeds in Europe. He’s physical, strong in duels, and one of our most consistent performers lately.”

Flamengo, though, are being careful. Sure, they see the money on the table, but they don’t want to give up a key player with 2026 in mind. They’ve already turned down an offer of €5m (£4.3m) from Grêmio, so they’re not in a rush or pressed to take a low bid. Now that talks in Europe are hitting the €20m mark, they know they can ask for more, especially if more Premier League clubs start bidding.

For Newcastle, this is a moving target. West Ham’s old valuation looks cheap now, the Bundesliga offer has raised the stakes, and Flamengo are working to protect their interests. If Newcastle really want Evertton, they’ll need to move fast and be willing to deal with a complicated negotiation. Waiting around probably means the price keeps going up and the deal just gets tougher.

Eddie Howe didn’t dodge the topic of his future at Newcastle United after CEO David Hopkinson’s recent comments. Hopkinson spoke up after Newcastle’s loss to Sunderland, saying they don’t plan to make a change “at the moment,” but left things a little open-ended with, “we’ll talk about the future when it’s time.”

How’s the answer? He’s all in. “Nothing’s changed for me, I’m 100% committed to the job,” he told the press ahead of their match against Crystal Palace. “That’s never wavered. I worked right through the break to get us ready, and I want us coming back stronger.”

He didn’t get too deep into what might happen next season or beyond, just like Hopkinson, really. Instead, Howe focused on what’s left of this campaign. “It’s tough to look too far ahead these days. I’m just focused on these last seven games. We want to play at our best and finish the season strong,” he said.

He pointed out that the year had been a whirlwind. “Honestly, we hadn’t trained with a full squad of 20 players since August. That’s a first for me. However, we now have the numbers back in training, and the sessions have been refreshing. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

As for the mood behind the scenes, Howe says everything’s steady between him and the club’s leadership, despite a slightly different tone from Hopkinson lately compared to earlier in the year. “There’s no falling out. I’ve got a really good relationship with Ross [Wilson] and David,” he explained. “We’re all planning how to move Newcastle forward, making smart decisions together.”

He still feels well supported. “They’re the main people I work with every day, and we’re on the same page about what the club needs to do. The future looks strong for Newcastle. Honestly, we’re probably ahead of where most people expected us to be, even with the bumps we’ve hit recently. We need to be smart, get the most out of our budget, and keep pushing to hit the goals everyone’s set for us.”

When asked what he needs from the club, Howe kept it simple: support and good working relationships. “I want to be able to show the best version of myself as a manager. If I feel that and the club feels that, they get the best from me.”

He made one thing clear above all: the club comes first. “If, for any reason, it’s not working for either side, then what matters most is Newcastle United. Not me or anyone else. That’s always at the heart of any decision I make.”