Newcastle United have entered the January switch window with a brand new central midfielder on the high of Dan Ashworth’s to-do checklist.
What’s the phrase?
The Magpies have been handed various harm setbacks in midfield already this season with Bruno Guimaraes lacking various video games and Jonjo Shelvey barely that includes via his respective harm. Setbacks in a key space of the pitch to massive gamers which appear to have left Eddie Howe feeling barely quick in midfield.
That is based on the dependable Toon correspondent Craig Hope, with the Each day Mail journalist claiming a brand new midfielder is now the ‘absolute precedence’ for the Magpies this month:
“You recognize central midfield, from what I’m listening to and once more that was bolstered by one or two conversations at the moment [Saturday], is absolutely the precedence,” Hope stated on his YouTube channel.
A variety of names have already been linked with a possible transfer to Tyneside forward of this month’s switch window with the likes of Youri Tielemans among the many checklist of potential winter targets.
One other title which is believed to be on Ashworth’s radar is the 21-year-old Moises Caicedo from his former membership, Brighton & Hove Albion who he signed from Independiente in 2021 for a payment of round simply £4.4m.
Ashworth can be stated to have set his radar on choices from throughout Europe with Ajax’s Edson Alvarez a possible possibility alongside the brother of Marcus Thuram, Khephren Thuram, who’s at the moment showcasing his expertise out in Ligue 1 with OGC Good.
Is Sean Longstaff NUFC’s weak hyperlink?
Sure
No
Space for enchancment
Newcastle’s midfield has definitely develop into considered one of their strengths beneath Howe with the signing of Guimaraes seeing the Brazilian develop into one of the crucial spectacular gamers throughout the league in that place.
The Brazilian has been a revelation on Tyneside having as he finds himself within the high 9 percentile for non-penalty objectives, accomplished dribbles, tackles and blocks (through Fbref).
And alongside him has been his fellow Brazilian, Joelinton, whose enchancment beneath Howe has been nothing in need of exceptional with the 26-year-old’s turnaround being hailed by Jamie Carragher in latest days.
Nevertheless, Shelvey’s absence has left a spot in Howe’s three-man midfield which has not precisely been claimed with any actual conviction by both Joe Willock nor Sean Longstaff.
Willock’s goal-scoring prowess proven throughout his mortgage spell beneath Steve Bruce is now a distant reminiscence with the Englishman scoring simply 4 objectives beneath Howe.
And Longstaff has been slammed for his show within the 0-0 draw towards Leeds United on Saturday because the Englishman squandered alternatives to grab all three factors.
With the Magpies flying within the Premier League and Champions League soccer an actual risk this season, it does really feel like a high quality associate for Guimaraes and Joelinton may very well be a giant addition for Howe.
