Newcastle have NOT given up hope of signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.There were reports in France today of the Magpies walking away from a deal amid Lille’s £60m asking price. Newcastle Confidential understands that is not yet the case, although sporting director Ross Wilson will not sanction any deal that leads to future problems with Premier League and UEFA spending rules. Wilson and the hierarchy have solved those issues this summer and there is now a transfer framework within which they are operating.Fernandez-Pardo is an ambitious target and the club’s interest was revealed in the final Confidential column of last season. It was thought then that the 21-year-old wanted Champions League football, but there has been encouragement in recent days of him being open to the move.The £50m marquee signing of Nico Gonzalez from Manchester City has been a huge boost in terms of the optics around a club who have lost several stars this summer. This comes on the back of confirmation of plans for a new £190m training ground development and the impressive showing in the season opener against Liverpool. There is a feeling inside St James’ Park, and among the fanbase, of renewed positivity heading out of the summer. Fernandez-Pardo, a Belgium international, is seen as a versatile forward who can play in any of the four attacking positions used by new boss Matthias Jaissle. Mathias Fernandez-Pardo is an ambitious target and Newcastle’s interest was revealed in the final Confidential column of last seasonJOELINTON INJURY BOOST Joelinton has a quad injury but the problem is not as serious as first feared, Confidential can reveal.Mystery has surrounded the nature of the Brazilian’s issue since Jaissle told reporters, 11 days ago, that he would miss at least a ‘couple of weeks’ with an unspecified injury.We now understand there were concerns that Joelinton could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He needed surgery on his thigh in 2024 and missed four months of the season. However, the 30-year-old does not require an operation this time and the news has been more positive in recent days. Indeed, once the symptoms subside, he will be free to return.That exact date is still to be determined, but it is hoped that will be this side of the September international break. Newcastle’s Joelinton has a quad injury – but it is not as bad as first feared TOON SET FOR SLICE OF MINTEH FEE Newcastle DO have a sell-on clause in the deal that took Yankuba Minteh to Brighton two years ago.Liverpool want to sign the 22-year-old and are willing to pay £65m to take him to Anfield. The Seagulls are holding out for closer to £80m and negotiations are ongoing.Minteh joined Brighton for £30m from Newcastle in the summer of 2024 as the club scrambled to avoid a Premier League points deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules. But we can reveal that, unlike the deal that took Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest on the same weekend, the package with Brighton does include a sell-on clause.The value of this is thought to be around 10 per cent of the profit of any sale, meaning the Magpies could be set for a return of £4-5m should the winger move to Liverpool, a not-insignificant sum in a world of Squad Cost Ratio rules. Yankuba Minteh could be heading for Liverpool from Brighton – which would land Newcastle a cut of the feeNO SURGERY FOR BURN… Dan Burn has damaged the deltoid ligaments in his ankle and is likely to be missing until mid-October, Confidential understands.The good news is that the club captain does not need surgery and there is still an outside chance that he could return just before the September break. However, Burn will not be rushed and the expectation is that he will use that three-week period for international matches to build his fitness on Tyneside.The protective boot he is wearing has given rise to fears of the problem being more serious, but that is standard practice for such an injury.The deltoid ligament is a strong, triangle-shaped band of connective tissue on the inside of the ankle that stabilises the area and prevents outward rolling of the foot. Burn damaged his deltoid ligaments when his foot rolled in training last week.Newcastle will not, as it stands, enter the market for a new centre-back. Sven Botman answered some of the concerns around him from pre-season with a strong display against Liverpool on Sunday. Dan Burn in his protective boot on Sunday – but the good news is he won’t require an operation…BUT OSULA BLOW A REAL PAIN Finally, on injuries at least, William Osula has avoided a broken foot but will face a spell on the sidelines.We understand the striker suffered the injury when he collided with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson during the first half of Sunday’s 2-2 draw. Osula played on before succumbing to the pain 10 minutes after half-time.While there is no significant damage, it looks like being an absence that is measured in weeks rather than days, with the pain needing to settle before a return date is set.That is a blow given Osula was lively and helped set the tone against the Reds. It is likely that Yoane Wissa will revert to striker as opposed to Nick Woltemade, with Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock vying for the No 10 role at Tottenham on Saturday.Woltemade’s future is uncertain and there could yet be movement in the final days of the window should an offer emerge, most likely from Germany.Willock is wanted by Besiktas and Newcastle have a decision to make with the midfielder in the final year on his contract. Jaissle told us on Sunday that he wants to keep him. William Osula was superb for Newcastle on Sunday and his injury is a real blow for Matthias Jaissle POPE SET TO STAY Nick Pope will be staying at Newcastle beyond the transfer window, as it stands.We are told that the goalkeeping slots at viable suitors are all taken at this present time and, barring injury to those keepers or an unexpected approach over the weekend, the 34-year-old will remain at St James’ Park entering the final year of his contract.Newcastle are still trying to find a solution given Pope has been told he would be third choice, but time is running out.TOON KIDS SHINING Lastly, for this column, I went to watch the Under-21s on Monday night during their 3-1 defeat by Tottenham.We should expect to see striker Sean Neave and defender Miodrag Pivas involved in tonight’s Carabao Cup tie against West Brom after they were taken off at half-time at Whitley Park, but Mason Miley played the full match.Of those who caught the eye, Korean winger Park Seung-Soo was the pick, while scorer Vakhtang Salia clearly has ability. I know those on the inside are excited about the 18-year-old Georgian, whose first year on Tyneside was disrupted by injury. He looks like a forward with scope for big improvement.