Newcastle United announced the £4m signing of Sparta Prague goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on Wednesday following a successful loan spell in 2018, in what is a positive start to the club’s summer transfer dealings.
Magpies manager Rafa Benitez will be keen to significantly strengthen his squad across the course of the next two-and-a-bit months in order to build upon the 10th-place finish they achieved on their first season back in the Premier League, and sealing a permanent deal for the Slovakia international would have been one of his priorities.
The 29-year-old shone and established himself as the number one under the Spaniard ever since he made his debut and kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford in February, and he could prove to be a bargain buy for the Tyneside outfit – the majority of whose fans don’t want club to re-sign a 25-year-old former flop this summer – in the long run given his price tag.
Benitez won’t be finished with that move however, and he will be looking to his owner Mike Ashley to provide him with the money to bring more key additions to the club before the window slams shut on August 9th – two days before the new campaign gets underway.
Here are three Newcastle deals Ashley must sanction after the Dubravka deal was finalised…
According to reports in The Chronicle, Newcastle are eyeing a move for the Fulham right-back as they look to strengthen in that position this summer and provide DeAndre Yedlin with some real competition.
Even though he won promotion to the Premier League with the Cottagers last weekend, his contract expires next month and he is yet to come to an agreement to stay at Craven Cottage.
If that fails to happen and he is available for nothing, then Mike Ashley should waste no time in handing the 25-year-old an offer he can’t refuse.
While the likes of Matt Ritchie and Jacob Murphy did well enough last season, it is clear to see that Newcastle need more strength in depth in wide areas and signing Traore – who could be available for £15m according to the Yorkshire Post – would certainly do that.
The Spaniard had struggled for an end product and to find consistency in the seasons leading up to the 2017/18 campaign, but five goals, 10 assists and a huge number of successful dribbles last term showed that he is perhaps ready to make the step up to the top flight again after Middlesbrough failed to win promotion.
The 22-year-old would add some much-needed pace and creativity from the wing, and his abilty to scare opposition defenders would be vital for the Magpies in the final third next term.
The Sun reported in April that Newcastle manager Benitez was keen to bring the Norway international to St James’ Park to be their new number nine next season.
It is clear to see that bringing ina new centre-forward needs to be a priority for the Tyneside outfit given they are likely to lose Aleksandar Mitrovic, and the versatile King would certainly fit the bill.
The 26-year-old struggled last season after a brilliant 2016/17 campaign in which he plundered 16 goals in 36 Premier League games, and Ashley and the Magpies could give him the new opportunity in his preferred striker role he is perhaps craving.
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