Newcastle newcomer can play four positions as manager praises versatility but warns adaptation will take time

Newcastle United completed a major signing on transfer deadline day, bringing in Belgium international Mathias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for £51 million on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old became the club's eighth signing of this transfer window, and manager Matthias Jaissle first praised his versatility when discussing him.

Jaissle explained the background of the deal in detail at the pre-match press conference: "We finalised this deal in the last few hours, and we are very happy about it." He particularly stressed that although Fernandez-Pardo is young, his physical condition has already met the team's requirements: "At this age, he has already shown great strength on the pitch. His physical level is excellent for the way we want to play."

The "master key" who can play four positions

Fernandez-Pardo's biggest strength is his versatility — he can play as a striker, attacking midfielder, and on either wing. This flexibility is exactly what Jaissle values most: "His speed in the final third can cause a lot of problems. He can play multiple positions, which gives us the freedom to adjust in every match. As a coach, I like this flexibility."

However, Jaissle also cautiously pointed out that the new signing will need time to adapt to the pace of the Premier League. Fernandez-Pardo's last full 90-minute match came on May 17 in Lille's final game of the season. This means Newcastle need to gradually increase his playing time and avoid rushing him.

"He is healthy now and training with us," Jaissle said. "But he has not played a full 90 minutes for some time, so for a young player it is important to adapt to our training intensity and the pace of the Premier League. We will monitor him closely and manage his workload intelligently."

Young players need time, something Jaissle was already prepared for

It is worth noting that all of Newcastle's signings in this transfer window are aged 24 or under. Jaissle has a clear understanding of the situation: "These young players need time to adapt. Yes, some players adapt quickly, but young players will always have ups and downs. This is something we know. We will support them during difficult periods and be with them during their best moments."

Since replacing Eddie Howe in August, Jaissle has remained unbeaten in his first three matches. He is confident about the team's future: "We have a squad with huge potential, so we are very happy."

Woltemade joins Juventus on loan, Jaissle sends his best wishes

At the same time as Fernandez-Pardo's arrival, another forward, Nick Woltemade, joined Juventus on a season-long loan. The Germany international previously joined Newcastle for a club-record £69 million fee. Although he made a strong start on Tyneside, he was later unable to secure a regular starting position.

Despite this, Jaissle is very optimistic about Woltemade's prospects in Turin: "I really appreciate Nick as a player, his qualities on the pitch, and him as a person. We have always had good communication and very honest conversations. He decided to accept a new challenge, and I hope everything goes well."

"I am very optimistic that he will shine there and will definitely score many goals. He is still our player, so we will keep in close contact," Jaissle added.

With Fernandez-Pardo arriving and Woltemade departing, Newcastle's attacking options have undergone another round of changes. Saturday's match against Bournemouth may provide a chance to see the Belgium newcomer in action.