The Euro 2020 Group A is already underway, and we thought that it would be worthwhile taking a look at five players of Wales, Switzerland, Turkey and Italy who Newcastle United should monitor for potential additions in the summer transfer window.
We’ve chosen the five in the context of Newcastle’s resources.
Kevin Mbabu
Team: Switzerland/ VfL Wolfsburg
Age: 26
Position: Wingback
Kevin Mbabu was a popular young defender at Newcastle back in the days of Steve McClaren, and at 26 years old, there’d be no harm in bringing him back.
Mbabu made 22 league outings for the Bundesliga club last season, but he consistently displayed his uncanny ability to push back defences with his sublime dribbling.
Mbabu is versatile. He can play right-back or wing-back – and has even played in central defence for his side if needed.
The 26-year-old spoke about his ability to Bundesliga.com when interviewed this past season.
He said: “I’m strong defensively and I can bring a lot going forward. I always try to help the team to score goals and to have good chances up front. But I think my strongest part is my defensive part.”
Haris Seferović
Team: Switzerland/ Benfica
Age: 29
Position: Striker
Target man Haris Seferovic is supremely adept at finding the net, having struck 26 times in all competitions for Benfica in the last campaign.
At 29 years old, he falls out of the Newcastle age bracket – the club like to buy young to increase a player’s value and then sell on, seldom do players age over 28 arrive at St James’ Park – but he does offer the club precisely what they need: further firepower upfront.
His £12milllion valuation isn’t unreasonable for a club looking to ensure at least ten goals or more a season for several years.
Harry Wilson
Team: Wales/ Liverpool (on loan at Cardiff City)
Age: 24
Position: Winger
Harry Wilson has been at Liverpool since he was a kid. He had a loan spell with Derby County, netting for the Midlands side 17 times in 46 appearances, and also appeared at Bournemouth. And now he’s at Cardiff City on loan.
Most notably during his time at the Championship club, he scored a superb free-kick against Manchester United in the League Cup.
The attacker made history when he became Wales’s youngest international in October 2013, at just 16 years and 207 day – but such youth is now passing him by at 24 years old and with the array of options at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, it’s no wonder Wilson has been linked with a move away from Anfield, as his side wait on his performance at the Euros before selling.
Newcastle have a number of free-flowing attackers in their squad but there would be no harm in bolstering with the likes of Wilson, even though his £15million valuation might be a bit too steep.
Merih Demiral
Team: Turkey/ Juventus
Age: 23
Position: Centre-back
The versatile, robust defender usually plays as a centre-back in a four-man defence, but the Serie A man can also operate on the wing-back when required.
His style of play in defence has drawn comparisons with Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic, according to a Juventus player expert, but the 23-year-old is yet to become a nailed-on starter at the Old Lady, featuring only 15 times for the club.
That lack of assured game time has seen him linked with moves away from Turin – surely a team like Newcastle, often on the back foot, would be a great suit for a young defender with boundless amounts of character.
Yusuf Yazici
Team: Turkey/ Lille
Age: 24
Position: Second Striker
Yusuf Yazici enjoyed a fabulous breakout season in Ligue 1 with Lille last campaign, as the side won the Ligue 1.
The 24-year-old had the previous season only struck one goal in 25 games, but last campaign the player registered 14 goals in total, with six assists.
Having been a substitute mainly for the French side, making just ten starts last season, it’s little wonder there have been rumours of a move away for Yazici. The most recent was a link to Arsenal last year, but that never turned into fruition.
It would a stretch for Newcastle to acquire the Turk’s services, but the pull of the Premier League might just do it.
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