Newcastle United have confirmed that they are on the brink of securing the capture of Japanese international striker Yoshinori Muto from FSV Mainz with a work permit being the final hurdle of the move.
The Magpies revealed via their official Twitter account and website that, subject to a Governing Body Endorsement, the 26-year-old will become the club’s fifth signing of the summer, with terms agreed with the German side and the forward having undergone a medical on Tyneside.
?? Muto move agreed subject to Governing Body Endorsement (work permit).
Full story: https://t.co/CekUpw21qs #NUFC pic.twitter.com/odB2avlMKI
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 27, 2018
Muto will be joining the likes of Dwight Gayle and Joselu as the club’s centre forward options, and follows Martin Dubravka, Ki Sung Yeung, Kenedy and Fabian Schar as the new arrivals.
Opinion
Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez would have been targeting a new striker from day one of the summer transfer window and he has finally got what he wanted. Muto is a hard working forward who, despite a lack of goals over the last couple of seasons, can pose a real threat up front with his energy and desire. He possesses a decent amount of pace, something the Magpies will be able to take advantage of on the counter attack, and should bring a different element to the current options in the forward line. He is still not the out-and-out goalscorer that Newcastle desperately need to fire them to future success, and that should be next on Benitez’s checklist, but Muto is still a decent capture who will have plenty to offer the first team squad during the upcoming campaign. Additionally, with Ki’s capture, the Magpies might be able to build up a following in eastern Asia, which could potentially be a lucrative market moving forward.