Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are expected to confirm the signing of Newcastle United transfer target Aurelio Buta, according to the Shields Gazette.
The newspaper claims that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side look set to seal a loan swoop for the Royal Antwerp right back, despite the Magpies having scouted him regularly.
The loan will likely have the option of a permanent deal in it, seemingly ending Newcastle’s hopes of bringing the 22-year-old to St James’ Park.
However, Steve Bruce’s side are well stocked at the position, with DeAndre Yedlin, Emil Krafth, Javier Manquillo and Jamie Sterry all at the club.
OPINION
This isn’t really a big deal for Newcastle, at least on the face of it. Currently they have the four right backs listed above, but Sterry was left out of the team’s Premier League squad, while both he and Manquillo are out of contract in the summer. Then you consider Krafth’s struggles since joining the club from Amiens last summer. So then you have a situation at the end of the season where Bruce could only be left with one right back he trusts heading into the 2020/21 campaign. If he feels that Krafth isn’t up to it then he may well be looking to sign a new player at the position, hence the Buta interest. So while this initially doesn’t look like a move Newcastle need to do, it becomes something more reasonable when you dig a little deeper. However, any team going up against Wolves in pursuit of a Portuguese player is doomed to fail. Therefore, the Magpies look set to miss out on this one.
