The U21 stars Newcastle could sign - Ajax talent, Portuguese winger and exciting Toon fan
The summer window approaches and we continue with our series of articles speculating about potential targets. One area where we are looking to invest is in young talent. In recent years, we have seen Yankuba Minteh, Garang Kuol and Alfie Harrison join the club, among various at younger age groups.
Dan Ashworth’s departure is a blow in this regard, but the club have invested in developing an excellent scouting and recruitment network. This should lead to the club getting themselves in position to identify and recruit young players in their formative years. Below we discuss five potential teenage targets for the club this summer.
Jorrel Hato – Ajax
Despite Ajax going through a period of transition this season, they remain one of the best academies in the world. One teenager who has been playing regularly in the first team this season is Jorrel Hato. He is a defender, who has made 41 appearances for the senior side in the 2023/24 campaign.
Hato is a left-footed centre back, who has also been used as a full-back. He would be able to play in a back three or as an inverted full back in a back four. The latter makes him interesting for us, as it is a role Eddie Howe has utilised with Dan Burn.
Any player that is schooled in Amsterdam has excellent technical ability and Hato is no different. He is very good at launching attacks from deep with his passing range, while he has a 91.6% pass accuracy. This is impressive for a teenager. The defender likes to put his foot on the ball and carry it forward to provide new passing angles.
Due to his age, he needs to work on his physicality. Hato needs to bulk up to improve his aerial ability, especially if he were to move to the Premier League. However, he is clearly a talent and despite being 18, he has captained the Ajax first team. That speaks to how mature he is and how highly he is regarded.
Roger Fernandes – Braga
This will be a familiar name to Newcastle fans, as he has been linked before. It is likely that interest remains, as Fernandes has continued to progress at a rapid rate. He is playing regularly in the Braga first team and he has a lot of experience for a player of his age.
Over the last few months, he has been starting more regularly and he has played 90 minutes on several occasions. Fernandes’ output is excellent for a teenager, with two goals and seven assists in Liga Portugal.
There is a minutes warning with the following data, as it is a small sample. However, Fernandes does stand out as a very active attacking presence. He averages 2.68 shots and 5.22 shot creating actions per ninety minutes.
The Braga attacker looks at home in first team football and his ceiling is very high. It would likely take a big fee to get his signature, but his value will only continue to increase. He is already capable of being a squad player for a Premier League team.
Chris Rigg – Sunderland
Another player who has been regularly linked to us since the takeover is Chris Rigg. The Sunderland academy graduate has been one of the few bright spots for the club in recent months and he has gained a lot of first team football. Despite playing for our rivals, Rigg comes from a family of Newcastle fans and many expect him to make that move at some point.
Sunderland will not want that to happen. There are rumours that a professional contract is close to being agreed, but as things stand, he could still sign a contract with another club this summer. The Wearside outfit would be due compensation should that be the result.
Rigg is raw and staying at Sunderland is probably the best move. He has started to start matches in the last few months and he will be learning a lot. The 16-year-old has scored twice in the Championship and has shown some versatility across the forward and midfield positions.
As a 16-year-old already doing well in the Championship from this region, we need to position ourselves to be Rigg’s next club. He has the potential to become very good and it would be a shame should that be realised elsewhere. It would also be a major statement to take a talented youngster from our local rivals.
It may not be one for this summer, but the club needs to do the groundwork to ensure we are the next club he joins.
George Ilenikhena – Antwerp
There will be a desire for the club to sign a first team striker this season, especially if Callum Wilson departs. However, with potential European football to deal with, we could benefit from a third player to compete in the centre forward position. The perfect player for this would be a young forward, who could learn from Alexander Isak and wouldn’t demand a lot of first team football.
George Ilenikhena could be the perfect profile for this. He is only 17-years-old, which is very young for a forward. That said, he has proven himself in the Belgian league, featuring in 30 matches. He has scored eight league goals, an excellent return for a teenager. Furthermore, he found the back of the net in Antwerp’s Champions League campaign against Barcelona. That is an indicator of where he already is.
Unsurprisingly, Ilenikhena is very raw. Defensively, he is still learning what is required for a forward and he isn’t very active without the ball. Physically, he hasn’t filled out and will need time to understand how to compete physically.
His football intelligence is clear, as he often finds himself in goalscoring positions, as shown by his average of 0.51 expected goals per ninety minutes. Sometimes, he rushes his finish, but composure is something that will come with more experience.
If we are in the market for a teenage forward to provide some squad depth, there aren’t many better options than Ilenikhena.
Eli Kroupi - Lorient
Another young forward who has been gaining first team football this season is Eli Kroupi. He plays for Lorient in Ligue 1. The transition from the French league to the Premier League is one that works well, which is why clubs like to scout in that market. Kroupi has 27 appearances in Ligue 1, contributing five goals and three assists.
Kroupi is highly rated in France and he is already considered a future full international. Real Madrid and Barcelona have both been linked with him, which emphasises how he is viewed within the game. Bournemouth will also emerge as an option, due to the link in the ownerships of the two clubs.
Although he has been used as a central striker this season, he is viewed as a versatile player with his long-term future likely to be in midfield. He could also play on the flank if required. That versatility should bring him firmly on our list of targets.
Unlike Ilenikhena above, Kroupi is a hard worker off the ball and already understands the importance of the defensive side of the game. With the ball, he is excellent at operating in tight spaces and he has the ability to be unpredictable, which makes him difficult to defend against.
