OPINION
Left back has been an area of need for Newcastle United all season, with Paul Dummett manager Rafael Benitez’s only established player at the position.
Currently the Welsh international is backed up by misfit Achraf Lazaar, who doesn’t feature in Benitez’s plans, and right back Javi Manquillo, who filled the role against Manchester United earlier this month.
That’s simply not good enough for a club of Newcastle’s size, and it does Dummett no good to have no one challenging him for a starting spot. It’s for that reason, then, that the team should revisit their interest in Ajax left back Nicolas Tagliafico in January.
The Sun reported this summer that the Magpies were looking to bring Tagliafico to St James’ Park for a fee of around £8million.
The 5ft 7in Argentina international [Source: Transfermarkt] was a key player for his team at this summer’s World Cup in Russia and would represent an excellent signing for an ailing Newcastle side.
Benitez needs to make some big additions to his squad in January if the Toon are to avoid another relegation. Tagliafico would be a terrific signing, someone capable of coming straight into the starting eleven and playing to a high level.
There’s no doubt that the 26-year-old flyer is a superior player to Dummett, and he would ensure that the team have two Premier League level full backs on the left hand side of the pitch.
Bringing in Tagliafico would improve Dummett’s performance levels, too, as the Welshman would realise he’s now under pressure for a starting spot and needs to improve.
Strength in depth is important, of course, but Tagliafico would be coming in to be the team’s starting left back. He’s too good not to be playing week in week out, and Newcastle could really do with an extra injection of quality.
His ability to rampage down the left flank and deliver pinpoint crosses into the box would provide an added dimension to the Magpies’ attack. Dummett tries hard, but attacking isn’t really his strength.
It’s imperative that Benitez brings in the right players this January, and Tagliafico would certainly be a tremendous addition for a team in trouble.
