Newcastle United’s move for Barcelona defender Marlon Santos is off, according to Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie.
Downie, who is the North-East England reporter for the broadcaster, claimed via his personal Twitter account that the Magpies had failed to obtain a work permit for the 22-year-old Brazilian centre-back.
Understand Newcastle’s move for Barcelona defender Marlon Santos is off after the player failed to obtain a work permit. Fernandez jetting into Tyneside instead.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) August 9, 2018
Spanish outlet Sport first reported on Wednesday that the Magpies had agreed to pay £1.8million to take Santos on loan for the season and that all they had left to do was secure a work permit for him in order to complete the move.
OPINION
It seems the Magpies can take down the ‘Welcome Santos’ banners they were equally preparing as it seems the work permit issue regarding the player was a hurdle they simply couldn’t be overcome in time to get a deal done. Given that the Magpies seemingly left it to the last minute to swoop in for the talented Barcelona defender then clearly it’s hard to accept that Rafa Benitez has missed out on yet another target. The 22-year-old would have been a fabulous recruit this summer and would have made the Magpies look very sturdy at the back. However it’s not all doom and glory at St James Park on transfer deadline day as Downie does share that Swansea City’s Fernando Fernandez is jetting into Tyneside ahead of a potential move to the club. Hopefully that transfer goes through swimmingly as it will be a real messy end to the window for the Magpies if no new centre-back is officially confirmed as a Magpies player on Thursday.
