A recent report from The Guardian claimed that Newcastle United are planning a summer move for Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph in the summer after the Magpies confirmed their promotion back to the Premier League last week.
Fabian Delph former Leeds United and Aston Villa midfielder has had a difficult spell with the Citizens, having moved to the Etihad Stadium back in the summer of 2015. Long-term injuries have played a huge role in his career being unable to nail a starting place; firstly, under Manuel Pellegrini and now under Pep Guardiola.
Delph was out of the team for treatment tables for the first half of this season and as a result has been able to register just 13 appearances for Manchester City first team scoring just twice.
Despite injuries and fitness issues, he remains a quality player and can boost Rafa Benitez’s side in their comeback season in the English top-flight. At 27, Delph is set to enter the best of his career and playing him alongside Jonjo Shelvey in the two-man midfield axis could prove to be a game-changer for the Magpies.
Former Arsenal man Isaac Hayden has prominently been used alongside Shelvey in the Championship this season and while the midfielder has done a great job of shielding his backline, Hayden doesn’t really offer a lot while going forward.
There have been different occasions when Rafa has had to use Jack Colback and Mohamed Diame in the middle of the park, but neither the duo has been productive. Colback isn’t a midfielder who could be counter on over the course of the new campaign as he doesn’t add much to the team and Diame, on the other hand, has been one the least Newcastle’s effective midfielder in the second half of the season.
There is no doubt that the Englishman would be an upgrade on the players that Rafa Benitez has at his disposal at the moment. The Manchester City ace is a solid midfielder in the middle of the park and offer a screen to his defence with his ability to read the game and be a step ahead. Delph’s dribbling abilities and his prowess from distance is another thing that will surely help the Magpies’ attack.
The Manchester City ace is in contract with the Sky Blues until the summer of 2020. But considering that Pep Guardiola will be bringing in more players over the summer, is possible that they consider shipping him out for a reasonable fee, having signed him for just £8million, according to Skysports.
His presence at St. James Part will no doubt provide a huge boost on the pitch for Newcastle, and it will make a huge difference off the field as well. Signing a player of his caliber and talent from one of the biggest teams in England will send out strong signals about the Magpies ambitions for the Premier League, which will also help them attract other transfer targets. In all ways, a deal for Delph makes complete sense for Newcastle and they should look to snap him up at the earliest.