Newcastle United are chasing FSV Mainz 05 forward Yoshinori Muto, according to the Daily Mirror.
The newspaper’s live transfer blog (Wednesday, 13:31) claim that Rafa Benitez is keen on signing the 25-year-old forward who is currently at the World Cup with Japan.
However Muto has been an unused substitute in Japan’s first two games at the prestigious international tournament.
The Daily Mirror report that Muto is valued as being worth in the region of £14million and has scored 20 goals in 65 Bundesliga appearances for Mainz since joining them in 2015.
Good move for Newcastle?
Potentially.
The Magpies are definitely in need of signing a new No.9 in this window and Muto is a player who could potentially meet that need.
Muto has more than proven himself as a capable attacking outlet for a club in Germany’s top-flight as he scored 8 goals in 27 league appearances in his latest campaign, but it’s hard to know if he would be able to make a jump to the Premier League.
The 25-year-old isn’t exactly a regular winner of aerial duels for his side and his passing can be sloppy so he is not capable of holding the ball up for his side when leading the frontline.
These attributes are vital to a Magpies forward as the Premier League side can sometimes find themselves seeing little of the ball in a game and they need a player to be able to hold onto the ball successfully in order for the club to switch from defending to attacking.
Nothing But Newcastle Rating: 6/10
Likely to happen?
Given he’s valued at £14million then it’s hard to know if Muto is a realistic option for the club.
The most the Magpies have ever spent on signing a player is £16million which they spent on poaching Michael Owen from Real Madrid in 2005 (Source: The Chronicle), so signing Muto could see them break their record.
As if Mainz value him at £14million then they might want at least a fee in the region of £17million in order to just to be tempted to sell him as he is a regular member of their first-team.
Therefore given that the Magpies are simply just in pursuit of the forward at this time and his valuation potentially being a hurdle they just won’t get over, this move doesn’t seem likely to happen at the moment.
Nothing But Newcastle Rating: 3/10
