Bigger talent than Miley: Newcastle actively trying to sign £87m-rated star
Newcastle United starlet Lewis Miley is enjoying a run of starts in the side in a new role at right-back after injuries to Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier had kept them out.
The two natural full-backs were available for the clash with Crystal Palace last weekend, but Eddie Howe decided to keep Miley in the side as the starter at right-back.
He rewarded his manager’s faith in him with an assist to Bruno Guimaraes for the opening goal in the 2-0 win over the Eagles, hooking the ball back across goal for the Brazilian to convert from close range.
The 19-year-old’s quality performances out of position at such a young age suggest that he has an incredibly bright future at St. James’ Park, if he can continue to develop and improve whilst remaining at the club.
Newcastle considering bid for new star
Whilst Miley is an incredibly exciting young talent, for the aforementioned reasons, the Magpies could add an even bigger talent to their squad this month.
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According to Somos Fanaticos, Newcastle United have joined a host of clubs in being interested in a deal to sign Santos left-back Souza in the January transfer window, with Spurs, Chelsea, and Manchester City also said to be keen on him.
The report claims that the Magpies view the teenage full-back as a potential ‘market opportunity’, as he could be available for less money now than he would be in a future window.
It adds that Newcastle have become an ‘active’ contender to sign him and are one of many European teams ‘intensifying their enquiries’. In other words, the Toon have already asked for information about what it may take to conclude a deal.
Somos Fanaticos reveals that Santos want a fee in the region of £17m to part ways with the youngster, who has an £87m release clause in his contract, per The Athletic.
Why Souza could be a bigger talent than Miley
There is no doubt that Miley is a big and exciting talent for Newcastle, given his emergence in the side at right-back as a 19-year-old in recent weeks, but Souza could be an even bigger talent for Eddie Howe to work with if PIF can get a deal over the line for him.
The Brazilian defender started 19 league games in the Brasileiro in 2025, per Sofascore, whilst Miley has only started ten games in the Premier League since the summer of 2024, with nine this term and one last season.
Souza, who is the same age as the Newcastle talent, is a natural left-back and has shown real quality with his performances for Santos to date, hence why so many top English clubs are looking to secure his signature in the coming weeks.
The £17m-rated star, who was described as “an absolute gem” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has shown that he can provide quality in and out of possession as a left-back who can bomb up and down the flank to impact matches at both ends of the pitch.
As impressive as Miley’s performances have been since being moved to right-back by Howe, Souza’s displays for Santos suggest that he could be an even more impressive young performer at St. James’ Park.
Stats
Souza (2025 Brasileiro)
Miley (25/26 PL)
Appearances
24
16
Goals
1
1
Big chances created
4
2
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.7
1.8
Clearances per game
2.3
1.0
Duels won per game
4.1
3.2
Dribbles completed per game
1.0
0.6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian star’s defensive numbers are superior to Miley’s across the board, which suggests that he would offer more to the team as an out-and-out defender who can cut out attacks and prevent his man from troubling Nick Pope or Aaron Ramsdale in goal.
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He also created four ‘big chances’, twice as many as Miley has created this season in the Premier League, and could offer more of a threat at the top end of the pitch as a creative talent.
Per Sofascore, Souza did not make a single error that led to a shot or a goal for the opposition in the 2025 Brasileiro. However, the Newcastle youngster has already made two errors that have led to shots in the Premier League and two errors that have led to shots or goals in the League Cup.
This suggests that the Santos youngster could be far more reliable in possession when playing out from the back, as he is nowhere near as susceptible to making key errors with his passes.
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Therefore, PIF could bring Howe an even bigger teenage talent than Miley by winning the race to sign the 19-year-old left-back before the end of the January transfer window.