OPINION
Newcastle must go head-to-head with bitter rivals Sunderland to sign Manchester United right-back Guillermo Varela.
Guardian reporter Ed Aarons claimed on his personal Twitter account that the Black Cats are looking to sign the Uruguayan defender, who spent the 2016-17 season on loan with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Sunderland interested in signing Guillermo Varela from Manchester United. Uruguayan has one year of #mufc contract remaining
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) June 25, 2017
However, a permanent deal in Germany is not on the cards after board member Fredi Bobic revealed on Frankfurt’s official website that Varela went against club wishes to get a tattoo in May.
The tattoo got infected and ruled him out of the German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund, which Frankfurt ultimately lost 2-1 to Thomas Tuchel’s former side.
This Is Futbol believes Newcastle should overlook the defender’s discrepancy, and rival their north-east enemies in an attempt to bring him to St. James’ Park.