Newcastle United legend Nobby Solano has warned not to expect too much, too soon if the club sign Rodrigo Vilca.
The 21-year-old's club Deportivo Municipal have held discussions about a possible £250,000 deal for the Lima-born player.
And the talk in Peru has been about Vilca emulating the journey made by Solano himself in 1998, but the former Toon star is wary of the pressure being placed on the attacking midfielder.
Solano, who is assistant manager of Peru, told the Chronicle: "He's been in training with the national side and he's very technically gifted.
"But he's still in the process of development.
"It's only in the last season that he played first-team football at Deportivo Municipal.
"We are just keeping an eye on how he's doing, it is still early as he is yet to get an international cap.
"It is looking like a player with prospects with a project ahead of him.
"He needs to show development, it is not about five or 10 games it is about consistency.
"I was surprised but happy to see him linked with Newcastle.
"It's another Peruvian player who could one day play in the Premier League.
"As it stands it's still just talks."
Chronicle Live understands that Steve Bruce is keen on the player but the youngster would be classed as an Under-23 player and will either spend time at the Academy or be loaned out to gain experience.
Solano spent five years playing in Peru with both Deportivo Municipal and Sporting Cristal before moving to Boca Juniors, where he played with Diego Maradona and then signing for the Magpies.
He said: "You need experience before you play in the Premier League.
"It's a big challenge.
"From my own experience, I would prefer to see the boy play some first-team football on loan or with the Under-23s.
"Maybe he could even play another year in Peru if a deal is completed.
"It's a different level for the boy and for anybody to make such a huge step up so quickly.
"What we're hearing is that his people and Newcastle have a future plan for him."
