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Newcastle United should target Arber Zeneli in January

By Durim Halimi

HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 10: Arber Zeneli of Heerenveen celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game during the Dutch Eredivisie match between SC Heerenveen and PSV Eindhoven held at Abe Lenstra Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 10: Arber Zeneli of Heerenveen celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game during the Dutch Eredivisie match between SC Heerenveen and PSV Eindhoven held at Abe Lenstra Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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The January transfer window will open next week and Newcastle United should take a close look at Arber Zeneli.

Newcastle United are in dire need of adding some new talent to their roster as a result of the club losing half of the games they have played this season. According to Rafa Benitez, Newcastle stand no chance of breaking into the top half of the season and supporters should expect a season-long relegation battle.

The most notable player the Magpies are looking to sign in January is Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United and various reports also claim that the MLS star is keen on playing for the Toon. That deal could happen soon, but it all depends on how willing Mike Ashley is to break the club’s transfer record.

Almiron aside, there is one talented player who is perceived as an up-and-coming star in the Balkans – Arber Zeneli. The 23-year-old midfielder currently plays for SC Heerenveen in the Netherlands and for the Kosovo national team. Here is why Newcastle should pursue a deal for Zeneli.

Dynamic Midfielder

Zeneli is a do-it-all type midfielder who primarily plays on the wing, but also plays as the number ten for his club and country from time to time. At 23-years-old, Zeneli is yet to reach his prime, but his level of talent at this stage bodes very well for his potential to develop into a well-known player across Europe.

Zeneli is well-known in the Balkans, but this year’s UEFA Nations League has shined some positive light on the talented midfielder. In fact, Zeneli was the third fastest player in the tournament – only Kylian Mbappe and Leroy Sane were faster than Zeneli. That being said, one of his primary attributes is his pace and it is quite shocking how he outruns defenders down the flank.

In addition to his pace, Zeneli is a dual threat when it comes to scoring and creating chances. Zeneli has played for SC Heerenveen since 2016 and during his time for the Dutch club he has made 71 appearances and scored 14 goals as a midfielder. Zeneli has scored three goals and completed eight assists thus far in the 2018-19 Eredivisie campaign.

In addition to his current form with SC Heerenveen, Zeneli has been integral to Kosovo’s success in the UEFA Nations League. Zeneli has scored six goals in 15 appearances for his country, with three of his goals coming against Azerbaijan last month.

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Zeneli would be a great addition to Newcastle United and he could provide the much-needed spark Benitez is looking for either on the wing or to replace Ayoze Perez in an attacking role. If the move for Almiron fails, Zeneli would be a solid and affordable option for Newcastle as the Kosovo international is only valued at €5million.