With Newcastle United getting promoted to the Premier League having been relegated in the 2015-16 season looking seemingly likely, the Magpies manager Rafael Benitez will be acutely aware that strengthening his side will be needed in the summer.
Newcastle’s hierarchy will be discussing improvements in a number of positions, but a crucial problem to rebuild the team as soon as possible would be the issue of who will line up on the left wing.
Yoan Gouffran has had somewhat an impressive season in the Championship with Newcastle and has performed admirably. Some brilliant goals and typically hard-working performances have seen the star play a full part in what appears to be like a successful season overall.
Fans are quite honest, so the whimpers of frustration about a year or two ago having changed to standing applause must be bright to the Frenchman’s ears. However, the very same supporters know well that Guoffran has found his level at this stage of the French striker and that nailing his place in Rafa’s side in Premier League looks highly unlikely.
Whenever the French forward has been unavailable or subbed, it has fallen to Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu to plug the gap. He’s done well in short bursts, but given that Atsu is temporarily at St. James Park and not yet permanent, he may well not be around for too long either.
Sammy Ameobi seems to be a player of not sufficient quality for the top division and so, this pretty much leaves the Castles talent Rolando Aarons as a genuine option on the left-hand side. Aarons could definitely reach the very top. However, Aaron is extremely an injury prone player and so Newcastle might look to bring in at least one left-winger in the summer. Here are two wingers who Newcastle might try and lure in to St. James Park in the summer.
Dries Mertens
The talent Belgian international is great watch. Mertens is full of experience and has bagged 11 goals for his country and may well be available for a move in the summer. A modern winger, the Belgian likes to cut insider from the left onto his right foot and he is very capable of doing it to great effect.
The 29-year-old has provided a goal or assist every 67 minutes this campaign across more than 35 games in Serie A and the Champions League so his quality is not at all in question.
Marko Arnautovic
The Australian international has risen rapidly over the past few seasons and he is now a Premier League regular. Stoke City’s status in the division saw him move to Newcastle.
The Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is a manager who most players would want to play for and so St. James Park might be right at the top of the queue of clubs Arnautovic would be interested in moving to should he decide his time at the Britannia Stadium is up.
There is no doubt about the quality and character that he would bring to Newcastle and would certainly be an impressive signing.