---
title: "Newcastle United: Magpies desperate to pip Leeds and Brighton to Jose Cifuentes"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-transfer-news-cifuentes-brighton-lafc/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-08-22T20:40:34Z"
modified: "2022-08-22T20:40:34Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Magpies desperate to pip Leeds and Brighton to Jose Cifuentes

**[Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/) are reportedly desperate to pip both Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion to the signing of Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes.**

### The Lowdown: Midfielder wanted

It has been [reported](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-scott-mctominay-conor-gallagher-transfer-gossip-news-updates/) that the St James’ Park outfit now want to bring in a new central midfielder given the injury to Jonjo Shelvey.

They have recently been linked with moves for Manchester United’s [Scott McTominay](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/man-utd-transfer-news-mctominay-premier-league/) and Chelsea’s [Conor Gallagher](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/chelsea-transfer-news-gallagher-premier-league-2/), so it is clear that they want someone to cover in the middle of the park until Shelvey fully recovers.

### The Latest: Cifuentes interest

As per [The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19575127/leeds-newcastle-brighton-transfer-gareth-bale-lafc-jose-cifuentes/), Newcastle are desperate to pip [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) rivals Leeds and Brighton to the signing of Cifuentes.

The Ecuador international is thought to cost in the region of £6m, and he is set to go to the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

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### The Verdict: Smart prospective business

Signing Cifuentes for a relatively low transfer fee to cover for Shelvey would be a smart piece of business from the Tynesiders, especially given that he holds a [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jose-cifuentes/marktwertverlauf/spieler/450211) valuation of £9m.

Hailed as a ‘[dynamic](https://twitter.com/LAFC/status/1217879190730469376)‘ player by LAFC general manager John Thorrington, he boasts an impressive 13 goals and 15 assists in 84 games for the MLS club from the middle of the park ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jose-cifuentes/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/450211/plus/0?saison=&verein=51828&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=)), highlighting how dangerous he can be with the ball at his feet and in range of the goalposts.

\[freshpress-poll id=”407021″\]

Cifuentes is only 23 years of age, too, so he has plenty of time to fulfil his potential under the management of Eddie Howe if he comes to Newcastle.