Newcastle United are in the hunt to sign Everton left-back Leighton Baines, according the Mirror.
The newspaper claims on their website that Baines, 33, is also attracting attention from Burnley and the MLS after the Toffees lined up Barcelona’s Lucas Digne as a long-term replacement for the former Wigan star.
Baines is not the only Everton player that Newcastle are hoping to sign this summer as the Daily Mail has reported earlier this month that the Magpies have discussed the possibility of signing Nikola Vlasic on loan.
Good move for Newcastle?
Baines is one of the most experience players in the Premier League at the moment with over 400 appearances in England’s top-flight from spells with Everton and Wigan, as well as 30 international caps with England to his name.
He is without doubt one of the most reliable left-backs that England has seen in the last decade, and while he would have been a brilliant signing for Newcastle several years back, it is probably one that they must avoid now.
Baines has started to become injured on a regular basis and he is nowhere near the player that he once was.
If he is available on a cheap deal, then he will be a good addition for the Magpies, but there has to be younger options out there that are more of a long-term solution for Rafa Benitez.
It would still be nice to see him play for the Tyneside club though.
This is Futbol rating 5/10
Likely to happen?
Newcastle could probably do with some cover at left-back as Paul Dummett and outcast Achraf Lazaar are the only natural players who can play there.
Kenedy can do a job at left-back, but he is probably seen as a more attacking winger for next season than a back-up full-back.
Baines might become a more concrete target as the deadline gets closer, but at the moment, it is still hard to see this deal being pulled off.
This is Futbol rating 3/10