With Newcastle United widely thought to be operating on a minimal budget at best during this month’s transfer window, reports from Turkey could be interesting.
What’s the story?
According to Asist Analiz, İstanbul Başakşehir are keen on a move for Emil Krafth.
While it’s not clear whether that would be in the shape of a loan or a permanent deal, trying to move the Swedish international on may be a good way of raising funds.
Having only made five Premier League appearances this season and seeing the previously outcast DeAndre Yedlin come back into the team of late, his departure doesn’t appear to be one the club would feel all too much. Indeed, Jacob Murphy has been deployed at wing-back on the right-hand side at times this season too, so there is cover when you also consider the presence of Javier Manquillo.
Valued at £3.6m by Transfermarkt, moving him on might be wise.
The Verdict
Krafth hasn’t ever wholly convinced since joining from Amiens in the summer of 2019, as his relatively low total of 29 appearances across all competitions in the season-and-a-half since would suggest.
Using WhoScored data, both Yedlin and Manquillo have outperformed him for tackles per game (1.4 to 1.5 and 2.2 respectively) and have made more key passes over the same period (0.4 to 0.5 apiece).
While those numbers aren’t hugely different, it does suggest Steve Bruce has little need for three options performing very similar roles.
If there is a chance to even get a portion of his wages off the payroll so they can be put to better use, Newcastle would be wise to jump on it.
