There have not been any hitches in Newcastle United’s swoop to sign Hoffenheim striker Joelinton, according to Chronicle journalist Mark Douglas.
The North-East reporter claimed via his personal Twitter account on Friday that the delay in announcing the deal could be down to Newcastle’s top-brass being out in China at the moment and Joelinton’s transfer may not be completed until they return to England early next week.
We're in that weird bit between fee being agreed and it being announced. Plus #nufc head coach and officials are all over in China, remember.
Given he's obviously not going to play tomorrow, it could even be delayed until they return early next week. But no hitches so far.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) July 19, 2019
Douglas previously claimed that Joelinton could have had a medical with the Magpies on Thursday.
However reports about the 22-year-old Brazilian’s move to Tyneside have since dried up and has led to some worried Newcastle fans approaching journalists, like Douglas, on Twitter to find out why nothing has been announced yet.
OPINION
Newcastle fans have every right to be worried about this transfer because their entire summer transfer window has been a mess so far and it wouldn’t be unlike the Magpies to mess up this deal for Joelinton. Newcastle are the only team in the Premier League that is yet to sign a new player this summer but have seen players like Salomon Rondon, Kenedy, Ayoze Perez and Mohamed Diame leave – as well as manager Rafa Benitez. Steve Bruce has been appointed as Benitez’s replacement so that should speed up the club’s transfer business. However them being out in China at the moment for the Premier League Asia Trophy is not exactly ideal. While the club is no doubt making some good money from the trip to the Far East, it looks to have put the brakes on their swoop for Joelinton. Hopefully it doesn’t allow time for another club to come in and hijack the deal, because the Brazilian seems like he could be a good addition.
