Newcastle United are in the hunt to sign a creative midfielder from one of the 10 players they have scouted extensively in the last six months, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper claim manager Rafael Benitez is keen to recruit a playmaker this summer who can unlock organised defences.
The Chronicle name Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Juventus’ Stefano Stuararo and Red Bull Salzburg’s Valon Berisha as players Newcastle are keeping close tabs on.
OPINION
Newcastle fans will be encouraged that the club are searching far, high and wide for the creative lynchpin the team desperately need. Ayoze Perez filled the second striker role in 2017-18 with some success and Mohamed Diame can also be pushed forward into a bulldozing central attacking midfield role, but Benitez cannot call upon a Cesc Fabregas-style conductor who can put 60 yard passes on a six pence and open up defences with an eye-of-the-needle pass. Such players are hard to come by, especially for a club like Newcastle who operate on a budget dwarfed by those of their rivals. But supporters are tired of hard-luck transfer stories, and of how Mike Ashley wouldn’t give the green light for Rafa to land the player he wants after conducting due diligence and negotiating terms on a low-price deal. With a takeover off the table, fans want transfer action. Kicking into recruitment overdrive means more than looking extensively at players. Sealing deals is where it’s really at.
