OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has been handed a major blow in his hunt to sign Barcelona defender Marlon Santos, and it could bring a new wave of anger over the club’s dire transfer window.
According to Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie on his personal Twitter account on Thursday, Marlon’s move to St James’ Park has hit the skids after his application for a work permit was denied – just hours before the transfer window slams shut.
It is understood that the Brazilian centre-back had even jetted into the North East in order to wrap up a late switch to Newcastle, however the deal now looks dead in the water.
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
Marlon would have been a solid addition to Benitez’s back-line.
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Nice in Ligue 1, appearing 27 times across all competitions and has clearly done something in his career to warrant game-time at Barcelona.
Newcastle could also do with some cover at centre-back with Florian Lejeune ruled out for an extended period, and with just hours to go until the transfer window slams shut, the Magpies will have to look elsewhere to solve this issue.
The Sun reports that Lejeune could miss the whole of the upcoming Premier League campaign, leaving just Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Fabian Schar as available centre-back options.
This latest update is now is probably going to bring to a close a truly forgettable transfer window for the Toon Army.
According to reliable journalist Nick Harris, the Magpies are set to make a £28.7million profit on transfers this summer but their squad has barely been improved.
The 1pm update on Premier League summer transfers. Not masses happened yet today … but this includes Benkovic to Foxes, Perez crossing London, and Newcastle transfer profits up (again) with Toney sale. As it unfolds: https://t.co/7LwdBDVEhh pic.twitter.com/xy75SOMR5U
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) August 9, 2018
There must be surely some money in the bank to tie up a late deal as a back-up to Marlon, but it may have to be a domestic deal as it could be too late to jet someone in from Europe or anywhere else in the world.
And of course when trying to sign proven Premier League players, prices are bound to be higher than what the Magpies are prepared to pay.
It’s hard to see where Newcastle go from here as the clock ticks away and hopefully Benitez will have an ace up his sleeve.