Newcastle beat Real Madrid and Barcelona to signing of La Liga wonderkid in major coup

Newcastle United are set to beat Real Madrid and Barcelona to the signing of a La Liga wonderkid in a major coup, according to stunning reports.

Newcastle are already looking ahead to the summer following the January transfer window slamming shut.

And the Magpies are close to finalising a deal for a La Liga starlet, who has attracted interest from Spanish giants Real and Barca.

According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are set to beat the La Liga duo to the signing of Malaga ace Antonio Cordero.

Per the report, Cordero and his representatives have now held talks with sporting director Paul Mitchell after visiting Tyneside.

The Premier League club are confident of sealing a deal as they look to strike a pre-contract agreement with the 18-year-old, who is a free agent in the summer.

Significant progress has been made in recent days.

If terms are agreed, he would join the St. James' Park outfit on July 1.

Real and Barca had expressed an interest in Cordero, with both teams set to miss out on the budding winger.

Antonio Cordero in action for Malaga. Image: Getty

Cordero only turned 18 in November, by which time he had scored three of his four goals in Spain's second tier this season.

He has made 24 league appearances this season and started his side's 1-1 draw with Levante last Saturday.

Newcastle chief Mitchell wants to 'add a layer of talent beneath' first-team level, having already snapped up Georgian forward Vakhtang Salia from Dinamo Tbilisi.

Salia will join the club when he turns 18 in August.

Turkish midfielder Baran Yildiz, 18, is also set to sign from Genclerbirligi.

The report adds that Cordero, Salia and Yildiz will likely be loaned out during their first season at Newcastle, with head of strategic partnerships Jack Ross tasked with finding suitable clubs.

But there is much more excitement around Cordero, who can operate on both flanks, having mainly played on the left-wing.