Newcastle United are plotting a triple swoop as they step up plans to strengthen their squad this summer, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper claim that manager Rafael Benitez has compiled a list of transfer targets as he looks to recruit full-back cover, a new winger, and a proven centre-forward.
The Chronicle report that members of Newcastle’s recruitment team have been in four countries in recent weeks – Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Holland.
OPINION
Newcastle are in dire need of upgrades across many areas of their squad, and it is easy to see why Benitez is prioritising the positions of full-back, attack spearhead and wide forward. Certainly, a new centre-forward is needed, but a permanent one this time and not a loan shark who arrives unfit and out of shape as Islam Slimani did at the end of January. As any follower of the Toon knows, senior trio Joselu, Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic are better suited to the Championship than the English top tier, which demands a wider skill-set than the trio possess. The door has been left open for Kenedy to return, but Newcastle certainly can’t count their chickens as far as the Brazilian is concerned. He would be expensive and his impressive form during his loan spell means the club would be best to have alternative wide attackers lined up. In the full-back positions, United have some reliable performers such as Paul Dummett and DeAndre Yedlin, but back-ups are required especially as a number of senior defenders are set to be sold this summer.
