Newcastle United are said to be looking for firepower to secure an quick return to the Premier League. Some reports in the Mail Online suggest that ‘Toon boss Rafa Benitez is to plunder his native Spain for a striker.
The striker in question is soon-to-be 22-year-old José Naranjo who plays for second-tier side Gimnàstic de Tarragona. Los Granes finished third in La Segunda, fuelled by Naranjo’s 15 goals.
This led the Mail Online to state that Newcastle “have held talks over a move” for Gimnatic’s young striker. Faced with a likely exodus of some players, Benitez knows that new faces are needed, Naranjo being one.
Newcastle will be likely tempted by the Spanish striker’s low release clause of around £2.4m. It is this that leads the way, say the Mail Online, because of “his relatively small release clause making him a new signing who wouldn’t break the bank.”
Newcastle could face competition for his signature from within Spain itself. According to Spanish website Moiceleste, three La Liga sides are said to be interested in the ‘Nastics young hitman. The Spanish publication say interest is coming from Celta Vigo, Deportivo La Coruña and Las Palmas. They go on to say that “the team that seems more interested is UD Las Palmas,” although some dispute that.
Moiceleste say that “surely Celta cannot lose sight of a player who finished the season with 16 goals in 34 games.” This seems to be the case with website Transfermarkt reporting that Naranjo has signed for Celta Vigo with a five-year deal.
Adding some weight to the challenge Newcastle face is website El Desmarque. They reported back at the end of May that Celta were indeed interested in Naranjo. Quoting publication La Voz de Galicia, El Desmarque say Celta Vigo: “are one of the teams that follow the young Andalusian striker.” They then go on to say that whilst Naranjo is wanted by Celta Vigo he is “in the crosshairs of several Spanish sides and also [sides] from abroad.”
All of this adds a certain sense of confusion to Newcastle’s supposed interest in the youngster. However, nothing is clear with transfer dealings at this stage.