OPINION
Times are becoming rather desperate for Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez as we approach the final two days of what has been a torrid window for the club.
With five new signings through the door already the race is on for Benitez to secure another couple of deals at least before the window shuts on Thursday night.
And, while the club have been linked to several players in the past few days who would hardly improve their squad, there is still time for Benitez to pull the rabbit out of the hat with one more signing of real quality.
One name that has been linked heavily with the Magpies in recent days is young PSG defender Stanley N’Soki, with several reports claiming the club were interested in the 19-year-old.
The latest on the subject comes from the Chronicle, who report that the young Frenchman is now Benitez’s top target heading into the window’s final days, with discussions still ongoing with the Ligue 1 champions.
The regional newspaper claim that the 19-year-old enforcer is keen on a move to Tyneside, having rejected several contract offers from PSG to hold out for the chance of first-team football somewhere else.
N’Soki is rated around £9million by PSG, and while this may seem like a lot of money to pay for a player who has made just two senior appearances for his club, this could end up being a masterstroke from Benitez.
N’Soki is a commanding presence at centre-back despite his relatively small 5ft 10in frame, and he may even experience another growth spurt in the next couple of years.
His left-footedness is exactly what Newcastle need at the back, with Ciaran Clark the only central defender at the club that is a natural left-sided player.
However, it is his ease on the ball which impresses the most, with N’Soki able to effortlessly drift forward with the ball at his feet, while his passing range is also impressive.
His inexperience may tell for a bit to begin with, but this could really end up being a brilliant move for Newcastle, who could have a real gem on their hands.
Benitez must now push to get this deal done and bring N’Soki into the first-team environment as quickly as possible before Saturday’s opener against Tottenham.
