Swedish defender Emil Krafth is set to be Newcastle’s fourth signing of the season, after arriving in the city yesterday to complete a move from French side Amiens.
A right-back by trade, the 25 year-old has 20 caps for the Swedish national team and looks to be another solid addition to Steve Bruce’s squad.
His £5 million price tag also means he’s a bargain in the current transfer market, and he will likely provide plenty of competition for current full backs Javier Manquillo and DeAndre Yedlin.
But for many Newcastle fans, it’s a signing that is simply just not impressive enough.
Krafth is far from a household name and has not exactly excelled in club football over the years.
Previous signings this season have come with plenty of glowing references of their potential and ability, whereas Krafth has just finished a quiet season on loan for Amiens, a lower-mid table Ligue 1 side.
After the exciting signings of Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Jetro Willems, it’s perhaps understandable that some Toon fans aren’t convinced.
Krafth does have a reputation for being solid and dependable, but he’s perhaps not the dynamic wing-back the Toon need to revitalise the right-back position.
Toon fans are certainly bemused at the news.
For that price can he really be any better than what we already have?
NUFC fans not pleased with Krafth move
https://twitter.com/shenanigan99/status/1159115293224030209
https://twitter.com/_kierangaskell/status/1159097589544996865
https://twitter.com/ScoutNUFC/status/1159041680697376768
https://twitter.com/sorensenmik/status/1159022720304189440
In defence of Krafth
Naturally the negative response has seen plenty of other NUFC fans leap to the player’s defence.
Because despite his price tag, Krafth is not an inexperienced player, in fact, he’s quite the opposite.
Krafth was part of the Sweden squad that remarkably reached the last eight of the 2018 World Cup and was even in the starting eleven for their quarter-final defeat against England.
Barely any of the current Newcastle squad can even say they’ve played at a World Cup, let alone featured in a quarter final.
He has experience in leagues outside of France too.
Prior to last year’s season long loan to Amiens, Krafth also played in the Serie A for three years at Bologna.
Admittedly there is nothing to suggest he will make the right-back position his own, but the negative response to his move has reminded many fans of the treatment of previous signings have had in the last few years.
Supporters have been quick to namecheck Fabian Schar, Martin Dubravka among others, hoping Krafth might be the next undiscovered superstar on the list.:
Toon fans defend Krafth
https://twitter.com/BootGeordie/status/1158996931013750787
https://twitter.com/DeanLeybourne/status/1159144539086622720
https://twitter.com/irelandawakened/status/1159050005778456576
https://twitter.com/BeatsStriped/status/1158989267626024961
https://twitter.com/robinnufc/status/1159052465746173953
https://twitter.com/JJFletcher7/status/1159044026101829632
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