OPINION
Newcastle United need not be daunted by Everton’s massive incoming bid for Jamaal Lascelles.
They should instead look to profit from the potential exit of the centre-back and club captain in more than just a financial sense.
With the Northern Echo reporting that Everton are preparing to table an early-window £30million offer for Lascelles, Newcastle fans are facing the unpalatable prospect of owner Mike Ashley forcing Rafael Benitez to sell one of his key players to a cash-rich rival.
Should Everton make the north-east giants an offer they can’t refuse – and that possibility shouldn’t be disregarded given the wealth of Farhad Moshiri and his willingness to spend it – Newcastle should look to use it to their advantage.
Benitez should demand an Everton first teamer in part-exchange who would provide a classy solution to a problem position. Step forward Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The Iceland international had a pretty miserable debut campaign at Goodison Park after his £45million switch from Swansea City last summer.
But he is a proven Premier League performer who creates and scores goals, and would walk into the Newcastle starting XI.
Indeed, were Sigurdsson to recapture the form of his final season at Swansea – and, given that he is 28, there is no reason he can’t – Newcastle would finish above Everton next season.
Only two positions and five points separated the two clubs in the recently-completed season, and the Magpies have the trump card of Rafael Benitez.
He could get the best out of Sigurdsson and recapture the flame that burned so brightly in 2016-17, when he scored 10 goals and supplied 13 assists in 40 matches to steer Swansea away from relegation.
The playmaker is a proven Premier League performer who could direct operations from behind the centre-forward and dictate the attacking play.
His value has also diminished from 12 months ago, which means he could be a makeweight in a potential Lascelles deal rather than a direct swap.
Top-class centre-backs don’t grow on trees. But neither do goalscorers and creators who are expert at dead ball situations. Sigurdsson could be massive hit at St James’ Park.
