Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez is “lobbying hard” for a deal for Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy, according to Australian outlet The World Game.
They claim that after a successful World Cup with the Socceroos Huddersfield wouldn’t let him go for less than £14.7million after buying him for just over £8million a year ago from Man City.
The report says that Benitez has been tracking him for two years and that he is now pushing hard for a deal to get him to St James’ Park.
They claim he would probably already be a Newcastle player if it wasn’t for thrifty owner Mike Ashley.
They won’t have it their own way though, with Premier League rivals West Ham also interested.
OPINION
Huddersfield might not want to lose him for less than £14.7million but it’s hard to see where that valuation has come from, aside from World Cup syndrome. He was good for Australia in their three group games, but they didn’t progress and while a solid transfer, he’s not a player that is going to light the fans up with excitement. Huddersfield don’t want to lose him and might try and sign him up for a new deal – his current contract expires in 2020. However, Newcastle and West Ham both represent a step-up for a player who moved to Premier League giants Man City in 2016 on a free transfer from Melbourne, but never made an appearance for them. He did play 36 Premier League games for Huddersfield last season, though, scoring four goals and registering three assists. He would be a good buy for Newcastle but would they be willing to pay nearly £15million for him? That’s highly, highly unlikely at the moment.
