OPINION
With Newcastle United moving one step closer to Premier League survival after beating Huddersfield Town, the Magpies need to start drafting up a shortlist of transfers targets for the summer.
The Magpies defeated the Terriers 1-0 on Saturday to move seven points clear of the relegation zone.
However despite looking safe for this season, Rafa Benitez knows his side need a complete overhaul in the summer window, especially in the midfield department.
The Magpies desperately need a new central midfielder who is as good as Jonjo Shelvey, but also more consistent.
According to the Daily Mirror, the Magpies have identified Fulham’s Tom Cairney as the central midfielder that want in the summer, with the 27-year-old free to leave the Whites for £20million at the end of the season if the club fail to achieve promotion to the Premier League.
However while the dazzling Championship playmaker is an exciting prospect, with a £20million price tag he is not worth taking the risk on.
Cairney’s has had several knee problems this season and just when they appear to have gone away, they affect the midfielder once again.
The Magpies may be barking up the wrong tree with Cairney, but they are looking at the right club to buy from.
Benitez should sanction a summer swoop for Cairney’s Fulham teammate Kevin McDonald instead.
The 6ft 2in defensive midfielder is not only a sublime passer of the ball, helping his team go on the attack, but he also offers his side’s defence an extra-layer of protection.
McDonald, probably due to Cairney’s injury woes, has consistently been better than his teammate this season, in the 36 appearances he has made.
The 29-year-old midfield enforcer would also cost way less than £20million, given the fact he is two-years-older and hasn’t got other teams registering an interest in him as of yet.
Therefore the Magpies should forget about Cairney and swoop for the more consistent McDonald instead in the summer.