Newcastle United boss apologises to Alan Shearer with Enzo Fernandez transfer fee admission

The 21-year-old Benfica midfielder shone at the World Cup in Qatar and picked up the tournament’s best young player award after helping Argentina claim a penalty shootout victory against France following a 3-3 draw after extra time. During the BBC coverage of the World Cup, Shearer was asked if he’d like to see Newcastle sign Fernandez.

He responded: “Absolutely, yes. See if he wants to play against Bournemouth on Tuesday night!”

And speaking ahead of Newcastle’s Carabao Cup last-16 match against The Cherries at St James’s Park (7:45pm kick-off), Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe responded to Shearer's comments with an apology.

“I didn’t hear that, I apologise to Alan,” Howe said. “I think I was on the other channel! That’s a mistake on my part.”

Howe went on to suggest Newcastle may be priced out of a potential move for the young World Cup winner as he added: “I’m aware of [Fernandez], and I know him. But I think the transfer fee might be quite lumpy.”

Newcastle have had scouts analysing players at the World Cup ahead of the January transfer window.

“From a recruitment perspective, I don’t think you ever just analyse the World Cup and sign a player off the back of those performances,” Howe added. “There is a huge body of work goes into signing those players and it is never just off four weeks.

"That’s not to say we won’t use the World Cup as a recruitment tool and look at players. But just solely on those games, we wouldn’t do that.”