Newcastle now more likely than Real Madrid to end up signing £15m player

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United are reportedly now more likely than Real Madrid to sign Brazilian youngster Marcos Leonardo.

According to Bolavip Brasil, the Magpies are the leading side in the race to sign the Santos striker, with Los Blancos stating their intention to not make an official offer for Leonardo in the January window.

Valued at €18m (£15m), Leonardo has been a revelation for Santos this season, with the 20-year-old attacker scoring an impressive 21 goals in all competitions for the Brazilian giants.

And a move to Europe now looks likely in January, with Newcastle the leading side for Leonardo’s signature as the Toon seek to add attacking options to their ranks in 2024.

With Madrid seemingly out of the race for Leonardo, there’s every chance that the youngster could now end up at Newcastle, a prospect that will excite plenty of supporters in January.

Indeed, Leonardo’s goalscoring record has been one of the most impressive this year in South America, and the promising striker could add a lot of quality to Newcastle’s squad if a deal can be completed.

Newcastle beating Real Madrid to Leonardo would be a statement

Likened to Sergio Aguero, it’s crazy we now seem to live in a world where Madrid could miss out on a Brazilian wonderkid to Newcastle.

Yet this is the reality we now find ourselves in, and the Magpies completing a deal to sign the forward would be quite the statement from Eddie Howe’s side.

Leonardo is an exciting prospect and a player who could light up the Premier League after enjoying a sensational year in Brazil with one of the country’s most historic clubs in Santos.

And Newcastle beating Madrid to the forward’s signature will only sweeten the deal, with Leonardo a player would be quite something under Howe and surrounded by the likes of Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes.