Newcastle United’s chances of winning more football matches in 2022 will increase four-fold if the club can sign some quality midfielders.
It’s no disrespect to the likes of Joe Willock, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey, Jeff Hendrick and Sean Longstaff, but they are simply not good enough to dictate the tempo of matches.
Eddie Howe’s side are constantly on the back foot due to our inability to dominate possession.
If we have a perfect blend of a ball-playing midfielder, who is defensively astute, but can also contribute to the team’s attacking phases of play, then the Magpies will look a more-rounded unit.
Here are three midfielders who Newcastle should target in 2022.
Donny van de Beek
The Dutchman’s nightmare at Manchester United shows no signs of easing and things haven’t worked out since his move from Ajax.
But the 24-year-old is a class act who looks in desperate need of being rescuing. Although the Dutch international won’t be short of suitors, van de Beek may wish to stay in the Premier League to prove a point.
Capable of playing in a midfield two or three, as well playing in an advanced role, van de Beek has the technical and battling qualities that could make him a huge success on Tyneside.
Van de Beek doesn’t come across as a man who is interested in stealing the limelight, he is a team player, who will be eager to turn his career around.
Signing players like van de Beek would be a huge upgrade on our current options and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see United’s number 34 donning the black and white of Newcastle.
John McGinn
The Scotsman has been a revelation since Aston Villa signed him from St Mirren three years ago.
A box-to-box midfielder who puts in a shift and is more than capable of scoring stunning goals from distance, at the age of 27, McGinn is entering his footballing prime.
Newcastle’s new-found wealth means that we can lure players to Tyneside to join the ambitious project which will no doubt come with a massive pay package.
Similar to van de Beek, McGinn wouldn’t be a picture boy signing, but he would be a great signing that would help glue a bunch of individuals together.
McGinn would bring energy, guile, grit and quality. He is the type of player that would crash into a tackle and get the Geordies off their feet, as well as finishing off a last-minute breakaway goal to steal three points.
Aurelien Tchouameni
The 21-year-old Frenchman would be a massive statement signing that would smash the club’s record transfer fee.
The Monaco midfielder could dominate Newcastle’s midfield for the next decade and he’s the type of player you build a team around.
With Europe’s biggest clubs circling ready to pounce when the youngster announces his desire to embark on his next chapter, Newcastle would grab the footballing world’s attention if we landed Tchouameni.
Already a full French international and playing alongside the likes of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, the defensive midfielder has a huge future ahead of him.
If Tchouameni is interested in playing a pivotal part in PIFs ambitious long-term target, Newcastle would be landing one of the most coveted talents in European football.
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