Newcastle are set to revisit their interest in Atletico's Alex Baena in the upcoming January transfer window. The 25-year-old Spaniard has enjoyed an explosive start to the season and continues to turn heads both in La Liga and on the international stage.
The interest from Newcastle first emerged towards the end of the summer transfer window. With Matthias Jaissle looking to strengthen his attack this winter, Baena's recent performances have made him an even more enticing target.
In just seven La Liga matches this season, Baena has scored four goals and provided one assist. His contributions were also key during Spain's clash against England at Wembley on Saturday, where he played a part in two of his team's goals.
A few days later, Baena shone again in a match against Croatia, where Spain triumphed 4-1. Just two minutes into the game, he assisted Lamine Yamal, setting the tone for the night.
In a commanding 68-minute display, Baena created another goal-scoring opportunity, delivered the ball into the final third four times, and made three successful recoveries. His performance has been highly praised in Spain.
Zona Mixta noted:
He is a crucial player for the national team, and Luis de la Fuente understands this perfectly. In the first half, Baena was involved in nearly all the dangerous attacks and came close to scoring.
GOAL España also highlighted Baena's influence, describing him as one of the main creative forces on the pitch:
For 68 minutes, he was pivotal for the team, assisting Yamal for the opener just moments after kick-off, constantly posing a threat to Croatia.
Having already established himself as a key player for Spain during the recent World Cup, where the team triumphed under Luis de la Fuente, Baena is now attracting significant attention.
Previously, Manchester City were also reported to be interested in the midfielder. However, Football Insider suggests that the club's current financial troubles could impact their activity in the winter transfer market, potentially giving Newcastle a better shot at securing Baena.
Yet, negotiating with Atletico is likely to prove difficult. The Madrid club is not keen on parting ways with one of their star players and reportedly will only entertain offers of significant value.
