OPINION
Newcastle United must kill two birds with one stone by hijacking Fenerbache’s pursuit of Stoke City defender Bruno Martins Indi.
Turkish publication Takvim claimed that Fenerbache were keen to offer the 26-year-old a way out of the Potters following their relegation from the Premier League last season.
The Magpies should look to beat the Turkish giants to Martins Indi’s services and rescue the defender from the now-Championship side before he features in England’s second-tier.
Martins Indi is a proven Premier League talent who would excel in life at St James Park.
The 26-year-old centre-back has played 52 times in England’s top-flight and looked like a very reliable defender in his 2016/17 campaign when he featured 37 times for the Potters and establish a formidable partnership with Ryan Shawcross at the back.
Martins Indi did at times look good for Stoke last season, during his 17 league appearances, but injury problems seriously affected his chances of featuring and building up momentum.
However a fit and healthy Martins Indi would be a very good signing for the Magpies to make as he is defensively sound and his ability to neatly pass the ball would see him suit Rafa Benitez’s style of play.
While Benitez may have welcomed centre-back Fabian Schar to the club, the Spanish manager could still do with an additional central defender in order to provide cover as well as a recruiting a left-back in order to bolster his defensive options.
The Magpies’ current left-back options are Paul Dummett and Javier Manquillo with the latter being a player Magpies supporters won’t be eager to see be used.
Martins Indi is not only a capable centre-back but has also featured as a left-back 65 times in his career and could easily supply Dummett with competition for a place.
Given that the 26-year-old would be able to be comfortable played as a centre-back or left-back then the Magpies could kill two birds with one stone by securing his services.
Therefore the Magpies must look to hijack Fenerbache’s reported pursuit of Martins Indi and welcome him to St James Park in the near future.
