OPINION
Newcastle United failed in a January bid to take Manchester City prodigy Phil Foden to St. James’ Park on loan in January, according to The Sun, but the failure could prove to be a blessing in disguise.
According to the report, the Magpies were one of a number of Premier League sides who approached the Champions over a potential move for their 18-year-old wonderkid, but were knocked back by Pep Guardiola’s desire for Foden to continue his progression under his tutelage.
Ultimately, that could prove to be a good thing for the Toon Army.
For one thing, a lack of options in midfield has forced Rafa Benitez to explore alternative solutions that might otherwise have slipped under the radar.
The advent of Sean Longstaff and the resurrection of Isaac Hayden in particular have been welcome and unexpected boosts to the Magpies’ squad.
Longstaff especially represents a fantastic, homegrown, long term talent who could have a huge future ahead of him, and it’s difficult to see how he would have gotten his opportunity had Foden been brought.
Similarly, had Mike Ashley been able to secure a short term deal for the England youth international, you could easily imagine a way in which he would have justified that as a way of avoiding splashing out a club record fee for Paraguayan international Miguel Almiron.
Almiron looks like a very similar player to the talent that Foden could become, but the difference now is that he provides either a long term solution to Newcastle’s problems or, at the very least, a decent resale value.
Missing out on Foden could prove to be a very good thing for the Toon Army.
