Newcastle United are keen to sign Coventry City midfielder Tom Bayliss, according to the Chronicle.
The 20-year-old England youth international has played 41 times for City this season, netting three goals in the process, and is seen as a decent prospect capable of adding depth to Rafa Benitez’s squad, as well as helping to lower the average age of the team.
According to the report, Bayliss could be available for around £500,000, and has been watched on multiple occasions by the Magpies.
OPINION
It’s hard to know what this means for Newcastle. On the one hand, being linked with a young player of Bayliss’ potential is never a bad thing. On the other, if this is the calibre and scale of signing the club are planning this summer, fans will be furious. Ultimately, it is hard to judge how good a deal this would be unless it is viewed in the broader context of an entire transfer window. As such, it must be judged on the individual merits of a potential switch. Signing a player from League One is always risky. Sure, you might unearth a gem, but equally, you might sign a player who just can’t cut it at the top level. Bayliss, to be fair, looks like a decent prospect, but whether that potential would come to fruition is hard to say. The good thing is that he already has a wealth of lower league experience to draw on, and he clearly has a future in the senior game. Whether that is at Newcastle remains to be seen.
