Newcastle United are looking for reinforcements at fullback, which feels like it could be bad news for Javi Manquillo.
The Magpies have been linked with signing a left-back all summer, with Kieran Tierney a rumoured target. As for the righthand-side, the club have made a bid to bring in Tino Livramento from Southampton.
Eddie Howe wants and needs a deeper squad ahead of next season, and that includes the defence. While his team were brilliant at the back last season, he will need more options to rotate due to the increased number of games.
Therefore, the club want to sign a right-back and a left-back, or even someone who can play on both sides. That is why Kyle Walker-Peters has been linked.
However, Newcastle already have a player like that. Manquillo joined the Magpies in 2017 as a right-back, but has spent a lot of his Toon career on the opposite side of the pitch.
But despite his versatility, it does not sound like the Spaniard is going to be part of Newcastle’s future.
Manquillo out of favour at Newcastle
According to the Athletic, Manquillo is no longer part of Howe’s long-term plans at the club.
That could suggest that he will be moved on this summer, with a report in May claiming that he will have plenty of options to depart.
The 29-year-old joined Newcastle six years ago, arriving from Atletico Madrid for £4.5million. He was not an exciting signing at the time, but has gone on to prove his worth in black and white.
However, his minutes have been severely limited since Howe became Newcastle manager. Manquillo has made 16 Premier League appearances since Howe’s appointment, falling behind Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth in the pecking order.
While he has been reliable in years gone by, there is a noticeable drop off in quality nowadays when Manquillo comes in for Trippier. The 32-year-old is levels above, and sums up the raising standards on Tyneside.
That could be what forces Manquillo out of St James’ Park, as Howe looks to build a squad that is strong enough to compete on multiple fronts.
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