Newcastle United are at a little bit of a crossroads this summer season. The Magpies’ newest switch goal was clear: signal a proper winger.
But, their reported primary goal, Bryan Mbeumo, rejected Eddie Howe’s facet, in addition to North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, in favour of a transfer to Manchester United, as per David Ornstein.
The North East giants had been compelled to maneuver on to their subsequent goal, Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. Nevertheless, their bid for the Sweden worldwide, value a reported £45m based on Ornstein, was rejected by the Metropolis Floor facet, though they might return with a brand new provide.
So, that leaves Newcastle considerably in limbo, though they’ve been linked wth just a few extra gamers who might grow to be their new right-winger.
The newest on Newcastle’s pursuit for a winger
Discovering a brand new right-sided attacker has definitely been a frustration for the Magpies. They’ve missed out on two main targets and should now return to the drafting board to determine their subsequent transfer.
Properly, Sky Sports activities reporter Keith Downie has just lately damaged the information that they’re ‘exploring different choices’ as regards to huge choices. Two of these embody PSV Eindhoven starlet Johan Bakayoko and West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus.
If the Magpies are to maneuver for Bakayoko this summer season, it looks like it might be a cut price transfer. In response to stories, the Eredivisie facet might settle for as little as £17m for his or her winger this summer season.
He has only one yr left on his contract, and a transfer appears inevitable, which might give Newcastle an ideal alternative.
How Bakayoko compares to Kudus
At simply 22 years of age, Bakayoko has already made a terrific impression throughout Europe. He’s clearly deemed Premier League high quality by some sides, after a transfer to Brentford fell via a few years in the past.
Now, two years on from that potential transfer, he’s nonetheless making waves within the prime flight of the Netherlands. Final season for PSV, the Belgium worldwide performed 47 occasions throughout all competitions, scoring 12 targets and grabbing three assists.
Nevertheless, that’s not Bakayoko’s finest season for PV, whose academy he’s a graduate of. His high quality was actually on present within the 2023/24 marketing campaign. The winger featured in 33 Eredivisie video games that season, and scored 12 targets, while grabbing 9 assists.
After all, the Magpies may pursue a transfer for Kudus, however there isn’t a assure that they may safe the companies of the Ghanaian worldwide. He has been provided to different golf equipment, together with Chelsea, as just lately because the sixth of June, based on Sky Sports activities.
He definitely has an excellent document within the Premier League for West Ham. The 24-year-old has made 65 appearances within the English prime flight, scoring 13 targets and grabbing 12 assists in that point. His finest season got here in 2023/24, when he contributed eight targets and 9 assists.
Nevertheless, he hasn’t hit the heights for the Hammers that Bakayoko did for PSV a few years in the past. This definitely means that the Belgian might be a superb different to Kudus if the Magpies determine to maneuver for him as an alternative.
The underlying stats on FBref additionally recommend that it’s the case, too. When taking a look at their numbers from 2023/24, Bakayoko averaged 0.76 targets and assists and seven.11 progressive carries per 90 minutes.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in direction of the opponent’s objective not less than 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
As compared, Kudus averaged 0.54 targets and assists and 4.32 progressive carries every recreation.
Bakayoko and Kudus key stats from 2023/24 in contrast | ||
|---|---|---|
Stat (per 90) | Bakayoko | Kudus |
Objectives and assists | 0.76 | 0.54 |
Key passes | 2.45 | 1.08 |
Progressive passes | 3.50 | 2.87 |
Shot-creating actions | 5.20 | 3.75 |
Progressive carries | 7.11 | 4.32 |
Stats from FBref | ||
The stats are there to recommend that, if they carry Bakayoko on this summer season, he could be a superb different to Kudus. Not solely is he a “scientific” goalscoring winger, as Antonio Mango described him, however he’s a unbelievable ball service too, because the stats present.
For simply £17m, this might be one of many bargains of the summer season for Newcastle. It hasn’t been a straightforward summer season thus far, with the rejections they’ve confronted, however this might be an enormous turning level and key addition.
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