Newcastle United don reach verbal agreement with Manchester City for midfielder Nico Gonzalez, as the club dey try to fill di gap wey di exit of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães create for di middle of di park.
Di 24-year-old Spaniard don reportedly give di green light to join di project for St James' Park, and di Magpies dey close in on one major midfield reinforcement. E go be recall say Newcastle don lose two key players dis summer, so dis deal fit be di one wey go settle di matter.
Nico, wey be former Spain Under-21 international, join City for January 2025 from Porto for around €60 million (£52m, $68.9m). Dem sign am when City bin dey short of midfield options and Rodri dey out wit ACL injury. Dat season, e start nine of City remaining 14 Premier League matches, and e help overturn di mid-season slump wey see Guardiola side fall away from title contention.
For di 2025-26 season, Nico make 41 appearances for City, but e only start two Premier League games after January. Di last match of di season, Pep Guardiola select am plus some fringe players. But despite dat, Nico talk earlier dis month say e no get any problem wit im playing time for Etihad, and e want stay for di club. E even come on as substitute for di final 11 minutes of Sunday Community Shield defeat by Arsenal.
Newcastle don already make six signings dis summer, including midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, but only two of dem pass 20 years old. Na clear shift for transfer policy, as di club also change coach, wit former Red Bull Salzburg and Al Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle replacing Eddie Howe earlier dis month.
Nico na product of Barcelona La Masia youth system and e make 37 first-team appearances for di Catalan club before spending 2022-23 on loan at Valencia. E join Porto for summer 2023. E never get im first cap for Spain, and e no dey included for Luis de la Fuente squad for dis summer World Cup.
Di move dey come as part of big change for City, wit Guardiola leaving after a decade and Enzo Maresca replacing am. Rodri don also depart, wit move to Barcelona announced on Tuesday afternoon, while former key players Bernardo Silva and John Stones leave di club after dia contract expire for June.
For Newcastle, dis deal fit be di one wey go bring back di physical and energetic style wey di club fans don dey miss. Nico be di kind midfielder wey like to carry ball upfield, and e fit find better home for Tyneside under Matthias Jaissle, especially if e maintain di frantic, physical style wey Eddie Howe develop.
