OPINION
Newcastle United are reportedly holding discussions with Bristol City over a potential summer move for defender Joe Bryan.
The Daily Mail claims on their transfer blog (16:52pm, Tuesday 15 August) that the Magpies are looking for extra bodies in the left-back position following Paul Dummett’s injury in the opening league match of the season, and they believe that the 23-year-old is the perfect candidate.
The report claims that Championship sides Birmingham City and Leeds United have also shown an interest in the youngster during the summer transfer window.
Good move for Newcastle?
This is a deal that might not get too many Newcastle supporters excited as they look to retain their place in the Premier League this season.
Acquiring the services of a young player with no top-flight experience throughout his career is a massive gamble for Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez and it could backfire come the end of the season.
However, Bryan is certainly a defender who has the potential to step up a level and deliver the goods for the newly-promoted Premier League side this year.
The youngster has showed that he can produce an attacking outlet from the full-back position, producing an impressive 14 goals and 26 assists during his spell with Bristol City.
The full-back role is becoming increasingly more important in the game and Benitez might have been encouraged to gamble on youth following Kyle Walker-Peters’ excellent performance for Tottenham against them this past weekend.
Benitez will be hopeful that Bryan will not be overawed by the prospect of playing in front of the St James’ Park faithful and rise to the challenge.
This Is Futbol rating: 5/10
Likely to happen?
With Birmingham and Leeds the only teams reportedly interested in Bryan, Newcastle are surely in the driving seat to get a deal done before the end of the transfer window.
The club are reportedly already in talks with Bristol City and it would be incredibly difficult for the youngster to turn down the prospect of playing in the Premier League and having the chance to work under Benitez.
The Tyneside club will be desperate to add more players to the squad following the injury setbacks to Dummett and summer signing Florian Lejeune whilst Jonjo Shelvey’s dismissal also leaves them light in the midfield.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10