Two Wingers Who Newcastle Can Target In The Summer
With promotion to the Premier League looking increasingly likely, Newcastle United and manager Rafael Benitez will be acutely aware that strengthening of the squad will be needed in the summer.
The hierarchy at Newcastle will be discussing improvements in a number of positions, but a crucial problem to resolve as soon as possible would be the issue of who will line up on the left wing.
Yoan Gouffran has had somewhat of a renaissance this season in the Championship and has performed admirably. Some stunning goals and typically hard-working performances have seen him play a full part in what looks like a successful season overall.
Newcastle fans are quite honest, so the groans of frustration about a year or two ago having changed to standing applause must be music to the Frenchman’s ears. However, the very same supporters know well that Gouffran has found his level at this stage of his career and that keeping his place in the side in the Premier League looks highly unlikely.
Whenever Gouffran has been unavailable or substituted, it has fallen to Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu to plug the gap. He’s done well in short bursts, but given that he is only at the club on a temporary basis and not permanently, he may well not be around for too long either.
Sammy Ameobi appears to be a player of not sufficient quality for the top division and so, this pretty much leaves the talented Rolando Aarons as a genuine option on the left-hand side. Aarons could definitely reach the very top. However, he is extremely injury prone and so Newcastle might look to bring in at least one left-winger in the summer. Here are two quality wingers who they can target in the summer.
Dries Mertens
The talented Belgian is great to watch, has experience (11 goals for his country) and may well be available this summer. A modern winger, Mertens likes to cut inside from the left onto his right foot and is very capable of doing it to great effect.
Mertens has provided a goal or assist every 67 minutes this season across more than 35 games in Serie A and the Champions League so his quality is not at all in question.
He would surely be a great signing for Newcastle United and would rather be a statement signing if Rafa Benitez manages to snap him up in the summer.
Marko Arnautovic
The Austrian’s stock has risen steadily over the past few seasons and he is now a Premier League regular. Stoke City’s status in the division has stagnated slightly and a move to a club of Newcastle’s stature would definitely kindle his interest.
Rafa Benitez is a manager who most players would want to play for and so Newcastle might be right at the top of the queue of clubs Arnautovic would be interested in moving to should he decide his time at the Britannia Stadium is up.
There is no doubt about the quality and character that Arnautovic would bring to Newcastle United and would certainly be an impressive signing.
