Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has claimed that Newcastle United’s Joelinton is now worth twice as much as what the club paid for him.
With the Magpies looking well and truly safe from the threat of relegation, it seems as though they will be aiming to finish the season as high as possible in the final nine games of their campaign.
Not so long ago, however, the club’s future was a lot more uncertain. But the form of Joelinton has helped them surge up the table, as he has played a key part in the team under new manager Eddie Howe.
With that in mind, Downie has claimed that the Brazilian is playing like a footballer who could be worth £80m in the modern market.
Is Joelinton NUFC's best midfielder?
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Speaking to This Is Futbol, he said: “I mean, who would have thought that Joelinton – who people laughed at for being a £40m signing – is now probably looking like an £80m [player].”
TIF Thoughts on Joelinton and Newcastle…
When he arrived in England, expectations would have certainly been pretty high. Indeed, he joined in 2019 from Hoffenheim as a club-record signing for a fee in the region of £40m.
But after a dire debut campaign, where he managed just four direct goal contributions in the league despite playing as an attacker in every Premier League game for the club, it initially looked like that fee had been far too high.
Eventually, though, he turned his form around. Now, with the club’s season saved, Joelinton, who is valued at £16.2 million (as per Transfermarkt), has truly started to prove his worth.
And, actually, when you consider the pivotal role he has played this term – and the vast amount of money the club have saved from avoiding relegation – perhaps Downie’s claim isn’t quite so outlandish after all.
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