Newcastle United are set to miss out on Maximo Perrone with Manchester City now on the verge of signing the Velez Sarsfield ace.

That’s according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who claims that City are about to pay Perrone’s release clause.

Romano claims that the release clause figure stands at around $8million (£6.6million) with the ‘here we go expected soon’.

Perrone will join up with City after the 2023 South American Under-20 Championship in Colombia.

This is terrible news for Newcastle United, who has been favourites to sign Perrone in recent months.

Velez670 reported in November that Newcastle were preparing a first offer to sign Perrone in 2023.

Velez A Fondo – as translated by Newcastle World – even claimed that sporting director Christian Bassedas headed to England in November to discuss a transfer.

It was suggested that Newcastle were the club pushing to sign Perrone but their hopes have been dashed by City.

This continues City’s moves in the Argentinian market after deals for Nahuel Bustos, Dario Sarmiento and Julian Alvarez in recent times.

Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images

WHO IS NEWCASTLE AND MANCHESTER CITY TARGET MAXIMO PERRONE?

Perrone, 19, has come up through the Velez ranks and is now an important first-team player.

A combative defensive midfielder, Perrone has racked up an astonishing 13 yellow cards in just 33 games for Velez.

Former Velez boss and Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze had very high hopes for Perrone having seen him emerge during their time together.

As quoted by Goal, Heinze branded Perrone as ‘spectacular’, seemingly seeing a huge future ahead for the midfield maestro.

Perrone has picked up one cap for Argentina’s Under-20’s and many expect him to nail down senior caps in the years to come.

Landing himself a big move to City is a great start, but only time will tell whether that move is best for his development, or whether he could have been better off at Newcastle.

Ex-Liverpool star who ‘never rated Lamps’ explains why Gerrard was streets ahead of De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne sits fifth in the all-time Premier League assists list on 95, but doesn’t hold a candle to Steven Gerrard as a midfielder, according to Jermaine Pennant.

De Bruyne has Frank Lampard (102), Wayne Rooney (103) and Cesc Fabregas (111) in his sights, but is still way behind Ryan Giggs (162) in the assists stakes.

But Pennant believes both Gerrard and Paul Scholes are ahead of De Bruyne as the best midfielders in Premier League history.

He told talkSPORT: “If you put Gerrard in this team now… Gerrard was the complete midfielder. He could defend like a centre-back, he could score goals and finish like a striker, he could ping like Scholes. He had everything to his game.

“That’s why I’m edging to Steven Gerrard. It’s close.”

When asked for his top four, he added: “I’d picked Gerrard, Scholes, KDB and then I might stick in Frank at fourth.”

He added: “You put Kevin De Bruyne in a very average football team, like you did in the World Cup and everyone was saying ‘where has De Bruyne gone’, he can’t do what Steven Gerrard did in an average team.

“You put Kevin De Bruyne in an average team, like you saw in the World Cup, and he goes missing.

“Steven Gerrard was playing in an average Liverpool team.”

Pennant also had a little dig at Chelsea legend Lampard, adding: “I’ve never rated Lamps. He’s a good player, don’t get me wrong, but he just scored goals.”

De Bruyne was criticised for his comments and performances for Belgium at the World Cup, but has returned to domestic action in flying form, having found the “fire” necessary according to manager Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola said after the 3-2 win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup: “Today he was outstanding. Kevin has had eight years here, you know him like me – he has to find the right fire inside of himself, just to be a little bit, I would say grumpy or upset to play his best. That is his energy inside of him. When this happens, what a player: run, provide assists, score goals, he is more than a player.

“I know it is not easy to find every three days this consistency but today he had something inside that says I am going to it, I want to fight. When this happens it is Mr Kevin De Bruyne, what can I say, eight years he has done everything for this club, an absolute legend. He will be remembered for ever as one of the greatest, greatest, greatest players of this club.”

SOURCE: hitc.com