🚨 BREAKING: Newcastle Set SIGHTS on SHOCK Midfield Signing as Jaissle Targets £35M Bundesliga STAR!

Newcastle United are reportedly exploring a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios as Matthias Jaissle continues to assess his options in the centre of the pitch.

The Argentine international has emerged as a player of interest for the Magpies, with Newcastle understood to have monitored his development for some time. The club’s scouting interest in Palacios is not thought to be new, with reports suggesting that he has been watched closely since 2024.

Palacios, 27, has established himself as an important figure at Leverkusen and has gained a reputation for his ability to control the tempo of matches, recover possession and contribute to the build-up from deeper positions.

Newcastle’s interest comes at a crucial point in their summer rebuild. The Magpies are looking to reshape their squad under new head coach Matthias Jaissle following a disappointing campaign last season, while several important departures have left the club with decisions to make across the squad.

A midfielder capable of bringing energy, technical quality and experience could therefore be high on Jaissle’s list of priorities.

According to the latest reports, Leverkusen would want a fee in the region of £35 million to consider allowing Palacios to leave this summer. That figure could make the Argentine an attractive option for Newcastle, particularly as the club continues to balance its spending with the need to strengthen several areas of the squad.

However, there is currently no indication that Newcastle have submitted an official bid for the player.

Instead, the Magpies are understood to be exploring the possibility of a deal and assessing their options before deciding whether to make a formal approach. The club are believed to have several midfield targets under consideration, meaning Palacios is not necessarily the only name on their shortlist.

The midfielder’s experience could nevertheless make him an appealing option. Palacios has already played at the highest level in Europe and has been part of a Leverkusen side that established itself as one of Germany’s strongest teams.

His style could also complement Newcastle’s midfield. Palacios is comfortable operating in front of the defence but can also move the ball forward and help his team progress through midfield. His defensive work rate and composure in possession could provide an additional dimension to Jaissle’s plans.

For Newcastle supporters, the potential move will naturally raise questions about whether Palacios is the right player to invest around £35m on.

The Magpies have already seen major changes to their squad this summer, and the club’s recruitment strategy will be under significant scrutiny. With no European football currently available, Newcastle must make sure every major signing fits the manager’s tactical plans while also improving the overall quality of the squad.

For now, though, the situation remains at the exploratory stage.

Newcastle are reportedly keeping a close eye on Palacios, but no official bid has been submitted and there is still work to be done before the midfielder could become a genuine Magpies transfer target.

Should Newcastle decide to accelerate their interest, the £35m asking price could quickly become one of the key factors in determining whether a deal is possible.

For now, Palacios remains firmly on Newcastle’s radar as Jaissle and the club’s recruitment team continue their search for the right midfield addition.