THREE viable options v a sensational Spanish swoop

This week came a report that Newcastle are tracking yet another winger, this time Sergio Canales of Real Madrid. Canales enters a long list of potential wingers that includes N’Zogbia, Barnetta, Boudabouz and Spanish veteran Vicente, who have all been linked with Newcastle over the summer.

Canales, a 20 year old midfielder who began his career at Racing Santander, was once described as one of the most promising players in Spain, but has now found himself on the fringes of the Real Madrid setup. He is available on a season long loan and is now being tracked by the likes of QPR and Everton.

Canales is obviously suffering from a deficit of self-confidence having been overshadowed by the big boys of the Bernabeu. Is Newcastle with its rainy weather, tough tackling players and frankly uninspiring manager the place for the lad to regain his top form? I very much doubt it. A season long loan back to Santander would probably be the best option.

With this in mind, who then should Newcastle be considering for a place on our flanks? Ideally someone who understands the rigours the Premier League, can hit the ground running and, above all, has the quality and determination to do well for Newcastle. Here are some thoughts.

Matt Jarvis was one of the most impressive players of the lower half of the table last season. His flying form for Wolves was rewarded with an England call up that saw him make his debut against Ghana in March 2011. Jarvis has however signed a contract that will keep at Molineux until 2015 and has recently reiterated his willingness to remain at Wolves despite reported interest from Aston Villa. Keeping this in mind, despite the fact his wage demands might be lower than N’Zogbia’s, Wolves would surely demand a similar fee, meaning a move for the player would be problematic.

David Bentley is another high earning player who has fallen by the wayside at Spurs. Once touted as the next Beckham, he never lived up to the massive £16m price tag which saw him move from Blackburn. A player with an excellent range of passing and something of a deadball specialist, Bentley regularly contributed to the scoresheet while at Blackburn. I have never been one to believe that talent simply deserts a player. Bentley can still fulfil his promise and go on to have a successful career. His time at Spurs was hampered by the fact that he was one Juande Ramos’s signings and when Redknapp took over he fell victim to a selection policy which has seen the likes of Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos and Wilson Palacios all fall out of favour. Given the right opportunity with the backing of manager and fans I am sure Bentley can rekindle the sort of form that saw him sparkle while at Blackburn. Though Spurs will likely want to make back a large chunk of his transfer fee, Harry Redknapp has stated that the club will need to sell before they buy, meaning they will now be much more willing to listen to offers for the player.

David Vaughan was another player from the lower half of the league that had an impressive season last term. Often overshadowed by the performances of Charlie Adam, Vaughan was an integral part of Blackpool’s attacking style of play that saw them flourish at the beginning of last season. Having failed to agree personal terms on a new deal, stating his desire to remain in the Premier League, Vaughan is now a free agent and is attracting interest from the likes of Sunderland and West Brom. His contract status is likely however to be a double-edged sword with regard to Newcastle, while the board might be tempted to make an offer, the fans are growing tired of frugal signings and want to see some money spent so a statement of intent can be made by the club.

Of the three listed here Bentley would likely be the best choice for all concerned. Available at a reasonable rate while possessing the skill and flair that the fans need to see. Bentley could also prove to be a useful replacement for Barton’s corners and free kicks once he leaves,at Newcastle this season he would rotate with Barton for the right hand slot, taking some of the spotlight off him so he can concentrate on what he does best.

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