NEWCASTLE UNITED SCOUT FLAMENGO’S 22-YEAR-OLD MIDFIELD ENGINE EVERTTON ARAúJO FOR SUMMER
Newcastle United join the race for Evertton Araújo. Discover why the Flamengo star's value has hit €20m this week.
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 That number’s outdated now.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 CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
