OPINION
Newcastle United must go all out to welcome midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek to St James Park this summer and not wait around to see if Mikel Merino decides to quit the club.
The Magpies are interested in the 6ft 3in tall (Transfermarkt) sublime central midfielder and could look to swoop for him on loan, according to the Chronicle, if Merino decides he’s ready to leave the club.
While it’s a step in the right direction that the Magpies are looking in Loftus-Cheek’s direction the club shouldn’t wait around to see if they have a potential quitter on their hands.
Rafa Benitez needs top quality players added to his squad in the middle of the park regardless if anyone leaves and Loftus-Cheek is a fantastic promising footballer who could make a real difference at St James Park.
After playing 25 times for Crystal Palace last season and impressing so much in his displays that he made England’s World Cup squad he’s exactly the calibre of player that should be recruited by the Magpies in this window.
With his dazzling dribbling ability and his neat passes the colossus midfielder would excel in Benitez’s side but due to this there is sure to be a lot of competition for his signature.
Therefore the Magpies can’t afford to hesitate about deciding whether to pursue him due to the interest he will attract let alone wait around to see if Merino wants to abandoned ship and disrupt the club’s summer plans.
As there will be several clubs pursuing Loftus-Cheek, the Magpies must go all out in their attempt to welcome him to the club one way or another which means they need to get the ball rolling towards a deal being sealed now, not later.
