Newcastle United are on the verge of completing a deal for FSV Mainz’s Japanese international forward Yoshinori Muto, according to Kicker.
The German publication state on their website that their colleagues from Kyoda News Network in Japan report that a deal is all but done for the 26-year-old striker, who has 25 caps and two goals for his country.
It is stated a deal is nearly completed which will see Muto join the likes of Joselu and Dwight Gayle as Rafael Benitez’s striking options, having netted at a rate of a goal every three games for the Bundesliga outfit, with 10 goals in 30 appearances.
Good move for Newcastle?
The Magpies are in desperate need of some attacking reinforcements but Muto’s record is hardly going to get pulses racing on Tyneside.
He seems a bang average striker, not too different to Joselu or Gayle, and whether he can really lead the line effectively remains to be seen.
Newcastle fans would have been keen to see a more proven, exciting striker with a decent record of hitting the back of the net arrive at St James’ Park, and so this one might not go down too well.
Still, it should help raise the club’s profile in Asia even further after the capture of Ki Sung Yeung earlier in the window.
This is Futbol rating: 4/10
Likely to happen?
If reports are to be believed, this one is on the verge of completion.
Newcastle need a striker, and with a year left on his current contract, albeit with an optional year’s extension, Mainz should be happy to let him go.
Only some sort of issue in the medical or personal terms should stop this one being completed.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10