In a world of £100m midfielders and forwards, Newcastle United have pulled off two of the best deals of the entire transfer window by signing Nico Gonzalez and Matias Fernandez-Pardo for as much as they raked in for Sandro Tonali.
As the Magpies signed off a remarkable summer with a £51m move for Fernandez-Pardo – a potential “game changer” according to one insider – their work in the closing stage shows that patience is a virtue.
Gonzalez at £47m is a striking bargain. While not a lung-busting midfield talisman, he is the authoritative presence who fits perfectly into Matthias Jaissle’s “vertical football” game plan.
Considering his age and CV, as well as being on the fringes of the Spain national team, it feels like a fantastic price for a player capable of adding a new dimension to Newcastle.
Fernandez-Pardo feels like a similar signing. At £51m and with no Premier League experience they are meeting his market value, but he is 21 and a long-term target.
