Exclusive: Newcastle United and Aston Villa in Premier League race for transfer

Newcastle United and Aston Villa have joined the chase for Sporting’s Maxi Araújo, a source has informed Sport Witness.

On March 22nd, we revealed Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea had made initial contact over a move for the left-back.

Newcastle United and Aston Villa are the latest clubs to join the race to sign Araújo.

He joined the Lions from Mexican side Deportivo Toluca when Manchester City’s Hugo Viana was in charge of transfers at Sporting.

The Uruguay international mainly operated as a left wing-back, managing 10 goals and 12 assists from 88 matches. His performances have already attracted attention from the Premier League.

Newcastle United and Aston Villa also keen

After we revealed about Spurs and Blues interest in March, there’s been a few claims from Portugal on Maxi Araújo. Last week, we relayed news of a potential battle between the two Manchester clubs for the 26-year-old.

A source has now informed Sport Witness that eight Premier League sides are following the South American.

This includes the Magpies, Unai Emery’s side, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City. Hugo Viana knows both the player and his club well as he brought him from Mexico. In addition, a few unnamed Spanish clubs are also in the picture.

The Sporting star has an €80m release clause in his contract while the Primeira Liga side are willing to sell him for less than that in the summer. The same source reveals the Lions want around €45-50m and not less than that.

For now, it’s unclear whether Newcastle United, Aston Villa or any other club are willing to offer that price for Araújo, who can operate as a left-back and a winger.

The player doesn’t seem to have made a decision on his future yet and is focusing on the season with Sporting and the World Cup with Uruguay.

Contract, value and agent info

Maxi Araújo’s contract at Sporting expires in 2029 and his value, as per Transfermarkt, is €25m.

Uruguayan agency GBG Global Business Group, owned by agents Martín Rodríguez Nader, Pablo Boselli and Rodrigo Lopez Pezzatti, are representing the player.