Spanish sports outlet AS recently broke the news that Aston Villa are actively pursuing Palmeiras midfielder Allan Elias. He is a primary target for the winter transfer window. Unai Emery’s side want to add more depth to keep up their strong form in the Premier League.
Newcastle United Face Stiff Competition for Palmeiras Prodigy Allan Elias
They see the 21-year-old South American as the right fit to add options in the middle of the pitch. Villa’s recruitment team clearly likes Elias’s high-energy style of play. This allows him to impact the game from box to box.
However, the Birmingham club has some big hurdles to clear. The same report says Newcastle United and Napoli are also keeping a close eye on things. Both clubs are ready to fight Villa for the youngster’s signature. This three-way scrap makes things difficult for everyone.
Palmeiras are in a strong spot to negotiate. The Brazilian giants protect their player with a tough contract rule. They have an “anti-European clause” in place worth a massive €100 million.
This high price tag means European clubs have to talk the price down, or they must pay a huge amount to skip long talks. So, any club that want the 21-year-old have to put together a serious money offer. That is the only way to convince Palmeiras to sell their top academy talent in the middle of the season.
Does Elias Fit the Magpies’ Ambitions?
Eddie Howe’s squad needs fresh legs in midfield. This will help them keep up their hard-pressing style during a long, tough English season. Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton are top quality, but the team often runs out of options. This is especially true when injuries hit or players get tired during busy schedules.
Allan Elias fits exactly what Howe looks for. The Brazilian midfielder is a hard worker who combines Brazilian skill with the physical strength needed for English football. Bringing him in would add young energy to the St James’ Park midfield. It would help the Magpies stay competitive in every tournament.
The money side of things is a different problem for the Tyneside club. Newcastle United have plenty of money, but the club’s owners are being careful. They have to follow Profit and Sustainability Rules. The board probably thinks paying anything close to the €100 million clause is unrealistic.
Therefore, they would need to work out a deal with payments over time. This deal has to work for Palmeiras without ruining Newcastle’s own wage setup or budget. Aston Villa and Napoli are likely in the same boat.
This makes it a fair fight. In the end, it might come down to what the player wants. He will likely pick the move that gives him the best chance to play every week. If the Magpies can show him a real plan for his future, they might beat their rivals in this big-money transfer race.
