The Magpies have recently shifted their transfer strategy to signing young players with huge potential and bringing down the average age of the entire squad.
During the summer transfer window, Newcastle United signed Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure, Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaquen, and Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Manager Matthias Jaissle has done well with a young squad, and the club have started the Premier League season strongly.
However, experienced right-back Kieran Trippier left after the conclusion of his contract and joined Championship side Wolves.
To add more depth to their squad, Newcastle United have identified 18-year-old Daniel Banjaqui, who plays at Benfica, as one of the targets on their wishlist.
According to Football Fancast, Benfica are willing to listen to offers in the region of £30M to £35M for Daniel Banjaqui during the winter transfer window.
Daniel Banjaqui came through Benfica’s youth system, and after establishing himself in the academy, he was promoted to the first-team this season.
The 18-year-old has a £69M release clause in his contract with Benfica, but could leave the club on a cut-price deal, as it seems the club could use his departure to manage their books.
This term, Banjaqui has made six appearances in all competitions, but he has been mainly used as a substitute, coming off the bench late into games for the first-team.
Banjaquie’s performances have not only caught the eye of Newcastle United, but several clubs, such as Manchester United, Barcelona, and Inter Milan, are also in the mix.
Currently, Newcastle United have Tino Livramento and Amar Dedic to play in the right-back position, and it remains to be seen whether they push to sign another right-back this January.
Amar Dedic was signed in the previous transfer window from Benfica for around £30M, and he put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the club.
It appears that due to growing interest in Tino Livramento, the Magpies are looking into Banjaqui to strengthen the right-back position, in the event Livramento leaves in the winter window.
Jaissle mainly utilises the 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2 formation, which focuses on high pressing, vertical progression, and overloading the flanks on each side during attacks.
In Jaissle’s system, the players need to be physically fit, quick, athletic, and should have the ability to deliver pinpoint crosses into the box for the forwards.
Banjaqui possesses all the qualities to fit into Jaissle’s system, but he lacks first-team experience, as he is yet to break through in Benfica’s senior squad.
The Portuguese right-back’s contract with Benfica runs until 2031, which puts the club in a strong position at the negotiation table.
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle United will make a strong push to sign Banjaqui as the demand for his signature keeps rising.
