Eddie Howe admits he's 'aware' of Argentina World Cup star Enzo Fernandez amid Liverpool & Newcastle transfer speculation

• Newcastle looking for midfielder
• Fernandez linked with Magpies and Liverpool
• Won Young Player of Tournament at World Cup

WHAT HAPPENED? Straight off the back of being crowned a World Cup winner and the 2022 Young Player of the Tournament, speculation is already rife linking Fernandez with a move to the Premier League. Naturally, one of the clubs linked is newly-rich Newcastle, who are in search of midfield options. Howe wasn't drawn on the rumours, though, and had his thoughts on the potential cost of the Argentine.

WHAT HE SAID: Speaking to reporters ahead of Newcastle's return to action, Howe admitted: "I’m aware of him (Fernandez), and I know him. But I think the transfer fee might be quite lumpy."

He added, responding to Alan Shearer's tongue-in-cheek comments following the final that Fernandez would look good in black and white: "I didn’t hear that, I apologise to Alan, I think I was on the other channel! That’s a mistake on my part."

THE BIGGER PICTURE: 21-year-old Fernandez impressed in Qatar and scored a fabulous goal earlier on in the tournament. However, it is being reported that it would take somewhere in the region of £87 million to prize him away from current club Benfica. He has also been linked with Liverpool, who look set to overhaul their ageing midfield imminently.

IN TWO PHOTOS:

Getty Images

Getty Images

WHAT NEXT FOR FERNANDEZ? After such a stellar showing in the World Cup, it feels more a case of when rather than if the Argentine midfielder will leave Benfica. The Eagles will no doubt do their best to recoup as big a transfer fee as possible for the man they paid just €10 million (£8.7m/$10.6m) to sign in the summer.