OPINION
Newcastle United fans must cross their fingers that Burnley are successful with their £25million raid of West Bromwich Albion as it would mean the Magpies don’t get Craig Dawson.
The Lancashire Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Burnley had launched a £25million double bid in order to get Dawson and Jay Rodriguez from the recently relegated Baggies.
While the Magpies never particularly want to see a Premier League rival strengthen their squad if Sean Dyche’s side are successful with their offer it would guarantee that Dawson wasn’t about to arrive at St James Park.
Rafa Benitez’s side are apparently in the race to sign the experienced 28-year-old defender, according to the Daily Mail, and while the Magpies do need a new defender he is not the option they should be taking.
Dawson is hardly an upgrade on any of the defenders currently at the club and would just be a sideways step that wouldn’t allow Benitez’s grand ambitions for the Magpies to come true.
The 28-year-old would be an expensive signing, the Mail claimed he is valued at £15million, to make when you consider he would be a player brought in just to add depth.
The thought of Dawson arriving is made worse when you consider that the Magpies would be nearing the most they’ve ever paid to sign a player, which is currently £16million on Michael Owen according to the Chronicle.
Dawson, who can feature as a centre-back as well as right-back, didn’t exactly standout in the majority of the 32 appearances he made across all competitions last season either.
There are clearly better and cheaper targets for Benitez to pursue, with fans no doubt surely uninspired over the prospect of Dawson arriving at St James Park.
So with Burnley having launched an attempt to pry him away from the Baggies, Magpies supporters must hope their Premier League rivals are successful with their bid as it would be a lucky escape for their club.
