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Lazaro will find Newcastle United to be a welcome landing spot

By Carson A Merk

MILAN, ITALY - DECEMBER 21: Valentino Lazaro of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 21, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY - DECEMBER 21: Valentino Lazaro of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 21, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images) /
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Struggling for minutes at Inter, Valentino Lazaro’s arrival at Newcastle United will be just what he needs.

According to rumors across the soccer world, Newcastle United have added a second player during this month’s transfer window. Inter midfielder Valentino Lazaro will join the Magpies on a loan deal, which is rumored to have an option to buy.

The 23-year-old is a quality playmaker that features on the right side as a winger or attacking midfielder. He joined Inter in July of 2019 and he hasn’t found success or consistent time on the pitch like he had on his previous team, Hertha Berlin. So far in the 2019/20 season, he has only 11 matches played and only two assists. Over the past two seasons with Hertha BSC, Lazaro had five goals and 12 assists while playing a majority of the matches. He’s played well for Austria in qualifying for the Euros, scoring twice and assisting once in 11 matches.

One interesting tactic that Steve Bruce could use would be deploying Lazaro more as a central midfielder than a winger. While there are quality passers throughout the Newcastle United midfield depth chart, the only player that really likes to get forward is Matty Longstaff and his preference is more about energy than true pace or dribbling ability. If Bruce either replaced a midfielder with Lazaro or used him as a third central mid, he would be able to add the ability to bring the ball forward at his feet from the middle of the park.

Whether Bruce tries that or plugs him in on the right and rotates Miguel Almiron as a number ten, the landing spot should be good for Lazaro. He can get consistent match time and contribute for a team that needs it a lot in the attack. With the loan to buy option, this is smart business from Newcastle United.