Could Newcastle pull a shocker and give this outcast a chance?

Newcastle United are desperate for a true left-back and there happens to be one on the books.

Last season, Newcastle United relied on Jetro Willems and Danny Rose to hold down the left-back position on loan. But, neither player has been brought back yet. The club has players like Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett, and Javier Manquillo that can slide over there if needed, but they are definitely in the market for a starting-caliber player. What if they can’t land one and need to rely on one of the above players? They will surely need another player there on the depth chart. It just so happens that there is a true left-back still on the books at Newcastle United that could provide depth.

Achraf Lazaar is the definition of an afterthought at Newcastle United, excluded from the 2019/20 Premier League squad. Under Rafa Benitez, he joined the club from Palermo back before the 2016/17 Championship season. He made limited appearances in that season due to Dummett’s reliability and defensive work. The next season wasn’t much better for Lazaar as he only appeared in cup matches before heading back to Italy on loan with Benevento. He did manage to score a goal during his nine-match stint in Serie A.

The last two campaigns have been split between the Newcastle reserves, Sheffield Wednesday, and Cosenza, while also battling injuries.

Now, there’s one year left on his deal and he hasn’t agreed to another loan move yet. Could Newcastle United keep him around, with a transfer fee this summer bringing minimal return, to serve as an emergency option at a thin position? It’s highly unlikely as the Moroccan couldn’t even break through under the manager that signed him in a lower division nonetheless. The expected outcome will be that he leaves on loan and potentially signs a new deal away from the club once he is able to in January. But, if he impresses in preseason friendlies, he could somehow shock us all. Crazier things have certainly happened…