Newcastle United are being linked with notable veterans across Europe, but there are two Premier League youngsters the incoming owners should consider signing.
From Edinson Cavani to Willian and Dries Mertens, Newcastle United have been linked with several top players from Europe’s best leagues. Obviously, many, if not all, the rumors should be treated as nothing more than that as a result of the takeover not even being complete yet.
Steve Nickson, Newcastle United’s head of recruitment, has been granted permission to return back to work. It is unclear how Nickson’s list of targets has been impacted, but he would be wise to add the following Premier League youngsters to his transfer list for executive review.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
The 23-year-old midfielder from Manchester City might be one of the most versatile players in the Premier League. Zinchenko’s ability to play across the line in midfield, as well as his ability to effectively play in defense, makes him one of the most intriguing players in England.
Zinchenko is not the type of player who will score goals for a team, but his work rate in disrupting counter-attacks, recovering the ball and, at times, leading attacks is why he earns constant praise from Pep Guardiola. The Ukrainian international has been with Manchester City since 2016, and he recently signed a contract extension that would see him stay at the Etihad until 2024.
It would not be easy to convince Zinchenko to leave the defending champions to join a side preparing for a major transformation, but there is nothing wrong with testing the waters. It is rare to find a young talent who has not entered his prime as a player, but has multiple years of Premier League experience under his belt. Zinchecko meets that criteria and he is capable of having an impact in multiple positions on the pitch.
Todd Cantwell
Todd Cantwell has adapted to life in the Premier League rather quickly, although the same cannot be said about Norwich City. The Canaries are sitting in the league basement with 21 points through 29 games, but Cantwell has enjoyed individual success this season.
With six goals and two assists to his name, the 22-year-old has played his part on the offensive end and he is now attracting interest from teams on the opposite end of the table. Liverpool are reportedly interested in securing Cantwell’s services this summer and it is believed that Tottenham have also joined the race.
With a strong supporting cast around him, Cantwell could reach new heights as a player and become a household name in the Premier League. His pace, technical skills, positioning in the box, and his accuracy in front of goal make him a dynamic player. Like Zinchenko, Cantwell’s best years as a footballer are ahead of him, so it makes perfect sense for Newcastle United’s incoming owners to spend £30m for this youngster.