OPINION
Newcastle United must swoop in and sign Burnley centre-back Ben Mee this summer after it was reported that the Europa League club may have to cash in on the impressive 28-year-old before the end of the transfer window.
Mee was in top form for Burnley last season as they finished seventh in the Premier League standings, but a report by This is Lancashire has cast major doubts over his future at Turf Moor.
It is understood that the Clarets have been in talks with the former Manchester City defender for months but are yet to reach an agreement with him over a new deal.
His contract expires at the end of next season so Sean Dyche may be faced with the prospect of losing him on a free transfer in 12 months, or cashing in on him this summer.
That is where Newcastle must come in and it would be an immense signing by Rafa Benitez if he was able to bolster his back-line by signing Mee.
The 28-year-old was in top class form last season, appearing 30 times across all competitions for Burnley, wearing the captain’s armband for a lot of them.
Without him, it’s fair to say that the Turf Moor club may have missed out on their spot in the Europa League and that means he would be a real asset to the backline at St James’ Park if Benitez was to sign.
According to statistics website Spotrac, he earns £28,000-a-week at Burnley, which means that he should be very much affordable for the Magpies and given the fact that Mike Ashley doesn’t give Benitez a lot of money to play around with, the club will surely have to look out for bargains like this.