Scout Report – Jonathan Viera
Burnley and Newcastle United are both interested in a January move for Las Palmas midfielder Jonathan Viera. He is estimated to be available for €20million and that does represent a good choice in terms of a bargain buy. Both clubs started the season out on a strong note but of late, their impact has fizzled out a bit. The Magpies are now in 13th place whereas Burnley are at 7th place in the points table.
They do have enough potential to climb the points table in search of a higher-placed finish but can Viera help them do that? Let’s take a closer look at his profile.
History
Born in 1989 in Las Palmas, Spain, Viera was a part of his hometown club’s youth academy and he progressed through the ranks quickly to start appearing for the reserves. His impressive displays earned him a spot in the senior team and he put in some top-notch performances in the second level. In 2012, he was supposed to join Granada but the move did not materialise and he eventually joined Valencia that year – only to be sent out on loan to play for Rayo Vallecano.
In 2014, he decided to join Standard Liege but could not make much of an impact since he featured only in 7 games. The club loaned him out to his hometown club Las Palmas and they eventually signed him back in 2015 in a permanent deal.
Playing Style
Viera gets fouled quite often but he is a skilled dribbler and knows how to run with the ball. He has a penchant for playing short passes, which often helps him retain fluidity in the game. As far as passing accuracy is concerned, Viera is quite strong at finding his teammates and is adept at set-piece encounters as well. He is a bit weak when it comes to tackling but his attacking prowess is commendable and so is his creativity.
Viera’s Future
There is clearly a dire need for a player like Viera at both clubs and he could be tempted to move after spending two years with Las Palmas. The opportunity to play in the Premier League could do wonders for his career and at 28 years of age, he is surely at his prime. The Clarets might seem like a better option for him considering how they are quite high up in the points table but it must also be noted that he will have to compete quite a bit for a regular starting spot.