Without even knowing what kind of transfer budget Rafa Benitez will have to work with this summer, the rumour mill is already spinning out its usual yarns and the gossip columns are once again flooded with links to potential incoming players.
Speculation is regularly rife at this stage of the campaign but with eight games to go and Premier League survival still yet to be secured, Benitez will be concentrating on preserving Newcastle’s top-flight status before he can focus on adding some fresh faces to his squad for next season.
Doing deals this summer will be especially difficult with the World Cup in Russia and the transfer window closing before the new season kicks off, so Benitez is likely to have already identified the areas in which he wants to strengthen and whom he intends to recruit.
One position that Benitez will be eager to bolster is the number ten role, currently occupied by Ayoze Perez, with the United boss possessing limited options in an area requiring a creative specialist to act as an important conduit between midfield and attack.
Perez, by the virtue of circumstance, has made that role his own during Benitez’s tenure but remains the proverbial hot-and-cold player whose numerous physical and technical limitations have been exposed on numerous occasions this season.
Of course, some will argue that his work rate and movement off the ball fly under the radar and are not universally appreciated, but for an attacking player his goal and assist return is borderline mediocre illustrating why it is anticipated that Benitez will invest an upgrade during the close-season.
Interestingly, a recent article composed by Squawka suggests, in a hypothetical scenario, that Newcastle should take advantage of Southampton’s relegation to the Championship and bring Sofiane Boufal to St James’ Park.
The five-cap Moroccan international was the Saints’ club record signing when he joined from Lille in August 2016 for £16 million, before the South Coast club signed Guido Carillo in January for £19.2m, and arrived with a reputation as the ‘next Eden Hazard’.
Claude Puel and then Mauricio Pellegrino both rarely been granted Boufal the opportunity to regularly exhibit his technical ability and demonstrate why he has been likened to Chelsea star Hazard, starting just 11 league games under Pellegrino this season and coming off the bench on 14 occasions; adding up to a total of just 1,189 minutes of Premier League pitch time.
His two assists this term are only bettered by the three goals created by Nathan Redmond, whilst the 24-year-old has completed the most take-ons (58) of any Southampton player, yet he remains a frustratingly inconsistent performer and a player that two managers clearly struggled to trust.
Boufal’s goal-of-the-season contender against West Brom, when he slalomed through most of the Baggies side to score a stunning solo winner for the Saints, was a microcosm of his career at St Mary’s to date. Eye-catching, match-winning contributions in excruciatingly small doses.
Which begs the question; is he better than what Newcastle already have in Perez?
Squawka certainly seem to think so.
“Should Newcastle stay up at the end of the season, they seriously need to invest in their team if they wish to re-establish themselves as Premier League regulars.
Though highly unlikely, as the club have been there before, Boufal would be worth breaking the bank for, adding another dimension to a very average Newcastle attacking line.”
That goal against West Brom will evoke memories of Hatem Ben Arfa amongst Newcastle supporters, a player still very much adored on Tyneside, but Benitez won’t allow nostalgia amongst his fanbase to influence his judgement.
Boufal is certainly a mercurial talent in the Ben Arfa mould, but also one that doesn’t exactly conform to the Benitez playbook, unlike fellow countryman Perez.
We’re not suggesting there is nepotism on Benitez’s part, but it’s easy to see why he values what Perez contributes to his overall tactical plan. His work-rate, selfless running and shrewd positional play are the key variables that elevate him above Boufal.
Creativity alone won’t be enough for Benitez to entertain making such a considerable financial outlay on Boufal, whose ability to carry out the same duties as Perez in the rigid, functional system preferred by the United boss is questionable.
Despite his indisputable talents, two managers have already been unconvinced by Boufal’s mentality.
Enough reason for Benitez and Newcastle to look the other way.
