Newcastle Transfers: Facundo Ferreyra Confirmed, Connor Wickham Next?!

As expected Newcastle United have followed up something of a toothless - though ultimately meaningless - friendly defeat to Malaga yesterday with the news that Shakhtar Donetsk's rebellious striker Facundo Ferreyra has signed on loan for the season with a view to a permanent move. Having started his career at Banfield, Ferreyra really made his name at Vélez Sársfield when he moved there in 2012, scoring 17 goals in just 24 games. That earned him a move to Donetsk, and though he didn't play as much as he would have liked, he managed 6 goals in just 5 starts, before the political unrest in the Ukraine forced his hand in refusing to go back to the club after the summer. Ferreyra said:

"I am very pleased to sign for Newcastle United. I like the Premier League and when I knew that Newcastle were interested in me, it was a very easy decision to make. "I spoke to my friend Fabricio Coloccini, and when he told me about the Club, I didn't need to think twice."

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said: "Facundo is someone we know on a number of levels, including his friendship with Fabricio (Coloccini), and we think he could be a big success here at Newcastle. This is a player who has played at the top level and is highly-regarded in Argentina. He has tremendous potential and hopefully he can realise that here at Newcastle United." Fans of Football Manager will be familiar with the player's name, as he's been one of the best prospects on the game for a while - which shouldn't be taken as a real scouting assessment, though they do put the work in to assess players at SI Games - but what is clear is that he is a hugely talented prospect. As long as he can adapt to the rigours of the Premier league, he could be a great signing. According to the Daily Mail - who obviously have something of a track record for making things up on a Sunday to grip sports readers - Newcastle are also considering the possiiblity of brining Sunderland striker Connor Wickham across to Tyneside in an astonishing £6m deal. Having already plundered Sunderland's contract rebel pile to bring Jack Colback in on a free, and with Wickham stalling on signing a new deal, despite being given an ultimatum by Gus Poyet, the club could make further enemies of Black Cats' fans by signing another of their top rated young talents. Poyet has recently said that Wickham must commit to his new deal or be sold - "for me, Connor€™s situation is clear. He needs to sign a new contract or we let him go €“ we sell him. There is nothing in between." The Mail say there's been no improved contract offer, and now Newcastle's ears have pricked up as they look to follow up the signing of Ferreyra with another striker, especially as Alan Pardew has already managed him once - at Reading when he was in the academy there - and tried to sign him in 2011. Would you go for Wickham at £6m? Share your thoughts below.