90min journalist Graeme Bailey believes that Burnley winger Dwight McNeil could be a great signing for Newcastle United this summer as the player ticks all the boxes for manager Eddie Howe.
While Newcastle has been linked with star signings like Moussa Diaby and Lucas Paqueta for over £50m, both of which are not close to securing deals at the time of writing, a new prospect closer to home has been revealed.
According to Bailey, the Magpies could look to sign McNeil after he was relegated with Burnley at the end of the 2021/22 campaign and could cost the club under £20m if they do move for him.
He told LOADED MAG NUFC about the rumour: “McNeil you can probably get for less than £20m… I think that Eddie Howe would like him. He ticks all the boxes.”
TIF Thoughts on Bailey’s comments…
While McNeil only managed to get one assist in his 38 games in the Premier League last season, he was playing for a Burnley side who ranked joint-18th in goals scored last season with just 34.
There has previously been a lot of praise for the young Englishman with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp claiming McNeil ‘gets better and better’ every time he plays and he could be a player that top six to eight clubs ‘will be looking at’ in the future.
The 22-year-old, who has been called a ‘big, big player’, may not have impressed with his attacking output last season, but when looking at his FBref stats it shows that he is a versatile player who can defend from the winger position. last season he ranked in the 99th percentile for blocks, 98th for interceptions and 99th for tackles per game so therefore it is not ludicrous to assume that he could fit into a wing-back position if Newcastle were to move to a back three.
He still has time to develop into whatever Howe wants him to be and to get him for a price under £20m could end up being daylight robbery in just a few years.
Is McNeil worth less than £20m?Yes
No
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