TBR Football can exclusively confirm that Newcastle United have lost out to Manchester City on the signing of Juma Bah, who has agreed to sign for the Premier League champions.
Manchester City beat Newcastle to Abdukodir Khusanov’s signing as well, as previously revealed by TBR Football.
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Judging by the numbers, Newcastle have the joint fourth-best defence in the Premier League this season — conceding 26 goals in 22 games.
Position Team Played MP Won W Drawn D Lost L For GF Against GA Diff GD Points Pts
6 NewcastleNewcastle 22 11 5 6 38 26 12 38
But even so, Eddie Howe’s side have certainly been rocked after Manchester City have trounced them in their move for another one of Europe’s most gifted young defenders.
Juma Bah of Real Valladolid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Valladolid v Real Mallorca at the Estadio Nuevo Jose Zorrilla on Septe…
Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images
Newcastle consider Juma Bah’s move to Man City as huge blow
Graeme Bailey — TBR Football’s chief correspondent can reveal that Bah’s imminent move to City is a huge blow for Newcastle as they were leading the chase for his signature.
So much so that Magpies sporting director Paul Mitchell was convinced the 18-year-old would make his way to St. James’ Park.
The members of the City Group have already discussed the Sierra Leonean defender’s impending arrival.
An option Manchester City could consider is sending Bah on loan to RC Lens to replace Abdukodir Khusanov.
Reis is eager to learn at Manchester City, as he joins Khusanov to make up the Sky Blues’ new-look defence, as Pep Guardiola’s side aim to climb up from fourth place in the league into the top four.
Position Team Played MP Won W Drawn D Lost L For GF Against GA Diff GD Points Pts
5 Man CityManchester City 22 11 5 6 44 29 15 38
With Kyle Walker set to leave Manchester City, the youthful pair’s arrivals means there is no room for the youngster in their roster.
Inter Milan also held talks to sign Bah.
But Manchester City have won the highly-rated centre-half’s heart, after Real Valladolid have decided to flip him for a quick profit after exercising the option-to-buy clause after signing him on loan from AIK Freetong.
Manchester City-bound Juma Bah stats this season
This season, Bah became the first and only player from Sierra Leone to play in La Liga after he started in Valladolid’s 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad in August.
Initially, the teenager played for the Spanish club’s youth side.
But soon after, Bah became a first-team player for Real Valladolid.
JUMA BAH FOR REAL VALLADOLID THIS SEASON
COMPETITION STARTS
LA LIGA 10
COPA DEL REY 1
This season, the Manchester City-bound starlet has started 10 games in La Liga and one in the Copa Del Rey.
Unlike the likes of Khusanov and Reis, Bah seems to be more of a project signing in Manchester City’s eyes.
It would have been interesting to see how Newcastle would have treated the young defender’s development had he made the move to Eddie Howe’s side.
