COMMENT
Newcastle would solve their problem area at right-back if they joined Everton in attempting to lure Cuco Martina away from Southampton this summer.
Football Faithful revealed on Wednesday afternoon that the 27-year-old defender had flown back to England to hold talks with Everton chiefs over a possible move to Goodison Park from Southampton.
The Curacao international is currently available on a free transfer with just over a month left on his contract on the south coast, with the Saints seemingly willing to allow Martina to leave.
With Everton looking to wrap up a deal, the Toon should maker an eleventh-hour move for the Dutch-born star in order to ease Rafa Benitez’s woes on the right side of defence.
The Magpies are about to lose Holland international Vurnon Anita for a similar reason, with his Newcastle contract set to expire on June 30 and will be free to leave the club for nothing.
USA international DeAndre Yedlin is set to go without a pre-season as he is representing his country in the 2017 Gold Cup, which will be hosted in America.
That will mean Yedlin could miss the start of the season, leaving the Toon with no right-backs in place to begin the Premier League season.
Bringing Martina to St. James’ Park would aid Benitez’s worries, and also preserve his transfer budget in order to allow him to spend money on improving other areas of the squad.
Martina is known for his willingness to get forward from defence but his pace to get back and retain his position, and that fits perfectly into the system Benitez has developed on Tyneside.
With his future at St. Mary’s Stadium in doubt, the Toon would significantly bolster their ranks for nothing with the signing of Martina.