Newcastle United are reportedly in talks with Manchester City over a potential deal for Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez, according to... well... literally every journalist under the sun. (David Ornstein reported first)
The Magpies are looking to shoo an experienced midfielder through the door before the Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday and are exploring deals for a few different options, with talks for Gonzalez opened in the last couple of days.
Unlike usual media speculation, it would appear that the talks are genuine given that David Ornstein is the man with his finger on the pulse, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we are pursuing Gonzalez as our first choice, especially if previous deals are anything to go by.
We've also got to bear in mind here that a certain humungous club by the name of Real Madrid have also been linked in tandem with his name today, so the rumour about us could already be DOA... but we'll humour it because why not, eh?
So, with that being said, let's take a look at the prospect of signing Gonzalez and whether he is actually a good option for Jaissle's side or whether it is perhaps one of those pesky smokescreens whilst other deals are worked on in the shadows.
Would Gonzalez actually be a good signing for Newcastle United?
We'll keep this bit rather brief as I think the more interesting conversation comes when looking at the possible smokescreen these talks are.
But quite frankly, anybody who doesn't think Nico Gonzalez would be a good signing for Newcastle United needs to get themselves checked on because he would be an EXCELLENT addition.
Gonzalez has everything that the Magpies need in a midfielder right now, from his experience to his actual playing abilities.
Whilst the Spaniard hasn't had the easiest of times at Manchester City, the timeline which is fuelling the fire for those who don't believe he is a good option, we simply have to look past that given the circumstances on the blue side of Manny.
But even with the limited play time he was subject to last season, his statistics were very much impressive.
Gonzalez is in the top 5% of all midfielders for forward pass percentage, holds better ball carrying stats and off the ball metrics like duel percentage won than Bruno Guimaraes - all of which are more than backed up when you actually watch him play.
Is it real or a smokescreen?
That heading feels more like one of those tacky gameshows you see on ITV than a question about the Gonzalez reports, but it is a very valid one at that.
Time and time again we have seen the players who are touted in the media as being lined up for a move to Tyneside emerge as nothing more than negotiation pawns to drum up interest from other clubs.
And while Newcastle's club to club talks would appear genuine, the fact that it has been leaked and reported by most of the world's top journalists would suggest there may be more to it that meets the eye.
We all know that we are desperately in the market for a more experienced, high-quality midfielder to balance the influx of youth we have seen this summer.
Thus, Gonzalez would make a lot of sense. But with a possible £60m+ price tag being floated about, it does feel a little steep for our current model and feels to me as if it may well be a little bit of a cover up for another name that isn't yet public.
A signing from left field wouldn't shock anybody and the club know well enough by now what happens when other clubs hear your interested in a player - so it perhaps would make sense for us to see a surprise signing unveiled before the window slams shut.
City are selling everyone
As I'm writing this another possibly prominent issue in the pursuit of Gonzalez has come to the fore.
Spurs are working on a double deal to sign Savinho and Marmoush.
City have already gone through mass change this summer and, given that Gonzalez was brought in as the man to replace Rodri, it really wouldn't make much sense for them to sell him too unless something else is going on behind the scenes (a decision on the charges perhaps...).
But what that does do is strengthen the argument that we are, in fact, working on other deals behind the scenes and the one for the Spaniard is the front to protect those other talks from the media.
As much as I'd love Gonzalez to make his way to Tyneside, City selling these other players would likely also push Gonzalez's price up and possibly even push him out of the range the club deem acceptable for one player under the current model.
With all of that being aired the actual probability that the 25-year-old is in black and white come September feels exceptionally low - but boy what a signing he would be if we did manage to pull it off...
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