Journalist Ben Jacobs believes Moises Caicedo could be a long-term transfer target for Newcastle United.
Newcastle and Eddie Howe got to see first-hand how good Caicedo is when the Magpies faced off against the midfielder on the south coast last Saturday, which saw him dominate the midfield, racking up the second-most pressures and tackles, as well as the third-most progressive passes in the Brighton side (as per FBref).
It’s said to be former Brighton man Dan Ashworth that has brought about the interest in Caicedo due to him knowing the player very well after signing him for the Seagulls, although it appears that Manchester United are trying to steal a march on the Magpies by landing him themselves this summer.
But speaking on The Done Deal Show, Jacobs believes that Ashworth is looking to bring Caicedo to Tyneside this time next year.
He said: “There’s a lot of interest. Dan Ashworth is up at Newcastle, knows the player, likes him – and Newcastle have a strategy and a plan, from what I understand, to think about bringing him on board in a year’s time, especially if the club have got European football.”
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TIF Thoughts on the interest in Caicedo…
It could potentially be a move that plays out very well next summer for Newcastle if they do indeed achieve some form of European football, as Caicedo will know that Ashworth sorted him out a great first move to England, so could trust him to do so in the next step of his career.
However, there are obvious issues to this apparent plan, including the small matter of securing European football for next season ahead of a lot of top teams already established in the Premier League, hoping that Caicedo doesn’t move before next summer, while if he has a storming season in the top flight, interest in him will only grow in 12 months’ time.