Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez is plotting to reignite his interest in Middlesbrough winger Adama Traore as he looks to inject pace into his squad, according to the Northern Echo.
The north east based newspaper claim that the Spanish boss has been on the trail of the 5’6″ (source: Transfermarkt) speed machine for the last 12 months and with the likelihood of Kenedy returning to St James’ Park after his loan diminishing, the lightning fast 22-year-old is on the shortlist.
However, after dazzling with Boro in the second tier, helping take them to the play off semi finals, the diminutive attacker’s price tag has reportedly skyrocketed in excess of the £15million he was previously rated at by his club.
Good move for Newcastle?
Anyone who has watched a Middlesbrough match over the past 12 months knows just how exciting Traore is to watch and he is the sort of player who can get fans off their seats in the blink of an eye.
Exceptional close control and electric speed are let down only by some poor decision making but at 22 he has a lot of time to get that sorted and become the player his attributes promise him to be.
Newcastle losing Kenedy is a blow and someone is needed to take his place, and Traore is as good a candidate as any, for he knows what it means to play for a north east club and the demands set on his head.
The issue is the price tag, and if it has been ramped well above £15million then there is a risk that he will not live up to the money in the top flight.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
Not if that asking price is correct.
Newcastle have not blown the bank once under Mike Ashley and after all the takeover farce over winter it would be a miracle if he loosened the purse strings at all.
While there is not much of a rivalry between Newcastle and Middlesbrough any more, it would still be bitterly disappointing to lose one of their standout stars to their near neighbours, and as good a move as it would be for the Magpies, it does not look like happening in the current circumstances.
This is Futbol rating: 2/10