Newcastle United are believed to be eyeing a new attacking recruit in the January transfer window, with journalist Fabrizio Romano having only recently stated that a new winger could well be something of a priority for the Magpies.
One man whom sporting director Dan Ashworth is believed to be looking at is Atletico Madrid sensation Joao Felix, with transfer insider Ben Jacobs revealing over the weekend that the Tynesiders are among the clubs interested in the Portugal international.
The highly-coveted 23-year-old – who is set to cost in the region of £86m – is facing something of an uncertain future in the Spanish capital having failed to secure a regular role under Diego Simeone this season, making just five La Liga starts thus far.
Despite that lack of action, however, the electric dynamo has still managed to showcase flashes of his undoubted quality after providing six goal involvements in the top flight so far this term, taking his overall tally for the Rojiblancos to 51 goals and assists in 129 games across all fronts.
Prior to his £113m switch to Spain back in the summer of 2019, the “dangerous” gem – as described by his manager – had scored 20 goals and laid on 11 assists in just 43 games at senior level for Benfica.
Such talent has also been replicated on the international stage with the youngster having sparkled at the World Cup in recent weeks, having scored once and registered two assists in his four outings in Qatar.
Equally, interestingly for those at St James’ Park, Felix also shares a notable likeness with a man who helped to dump England out of the tournament at the weekend in the form of France’s Antoine Griezmann, with the Atleti colleagues sharing a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.
The latter man – who registered two assists in that triumph over the Three Lions – has been “one of the top performers” in Qatar thus far, according to journalist Tariq Panja, with his average match rating of 7.84, as per Sofascore, the fourth-best of any player at the competition.
It would no doubt be a real coup to be able to land a talent of that ilk in the form of Felix for Eddie Howe’s side, with the Portuguese wizard notably ranking in the top 14% in Europe with regards to dribbles completed among those in his position, while Griezmann ranks in the top 20% for that same metric.
Not only are the pair gifted at driving their side up the pitch, but the duo can also offer real quality with an incisive forward pass, with the former Barcelona ace ranking in the top 8% for progressive passes, while his young teammate ranks in the top 12% in that regard.
Equally, the colleagues are also able to offer a real asset in a defensive sense with Griezmann ranking in the top 3% for interceptions made, while Felix ranks in the top 1% in the same metric, having put in the hard yards from the front under Simeone.
To be compared to such an experienced figure who boasts 234 club career goals and 42 goals in 115 games for his country is a real sign of just what the former Benfica ace can go on to achieve in the game, with the hope being that he takes his next steps with Newcastle.