Newcastle United are in the hunt for Fulham winger Ryan Babel this summer, according to Football Insider.
The reputable football site reports that Rafa Benitez is keen on signing the 32-year-old, but only if he remains as the club’s manager beyond the end of the season.
The report adds that the Magpies are amongst some of the clubs keeping track of Babel, a player Benitez signed from Ajax while he was in charge of Liverpool in 2007.
Babel – who is available on a free transfer this summer when his deal ends – has said that he would prefer to stay in the Premier League next season after the Cottagers were recently relegated.
OPINION
Babel has scored four goals since he arrived at Fulham in January, also making four assists in the process. However, it remains to be seen why Benitez is chasing the winger – he is 32, and he is not the type of player Newcastle need in order to progress. Besides, Mike Ashley is not too keen on sanctioning moves for players who are over 30-years-old, with a permanent move for Salomon Rondon still hanging in the balance. Babel would not add anything to the team that they already have, and to be honest, he does not have much of his playing career left. It would be a big risk if they signed the Dutch player in the summer, and the fans are not going to be too pleased about the possibility of signing him either. Benitez may know what he is capable of, but Newcastle definitely need to be signing better players.
