Newcastle transfer target Kerim Mrabti may be one of the early transfers Rafa is able to close for Newcastle this summer.
Newcastle were said to have bid €1.3M in January for the striker who can play either up front or as a number 10 – he plays for Stockholm-based Djurgardens IF in the Allsvenskan League.
The news was in Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN), a Dutch language newspaper based in Brussels and Italian club Udinese also bid for him.
The Swedish International’s contract is up at the end of the Allsvenskan League in early November, and he will be available as a free agent.
24-year-old Swedish striker Kerim Mrabti – plays for Stockholm-based Djurgardens
Mrabti has been speaking to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet:
“Clearly, I have explained to Bosse Andersson (Djurgardens’ Sports Director) that I have a chance to go abroad now.”
“This is my fourth year here and I feel I’ve done a lot for the club.”
The fee his club want is just €1.5M, so Newcastle were close to that in January and the could put in a slightly increased bid for the Swede if Rafa really wants him.
He is talked about in his home country as being similar to Eden Hazard.
But at 22 when Hazard signed on at Chelsea in 2012 he was worth £32M – and since then the fees have gone up a lot with the Premier League clubs getting so much more these days.
So if he is a good player – even a little bit like Hazard – he would appear to be a bargain buy at only €1.5M and a small risk for Newcastle.
He was born in Sweden to a half-Finnish and half-Swedish mother and a Tunisian father and he has 3 caps for Sweden.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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21 comments so far
twotonearmy
May 28, 2018 at 2:32 PM
Comment #1Little risk as far as transfer cost but then factor in wages and that he would take up a senior spot where we are already overloaded with dead weight…
We don’t have the luxury of buying players in the hopes that they turn good, but on the other hand we also don’t have the luxury of a reasonable transfer kitty either. Could be interesting if he turns out to be another Ayoze type of signing, I suppose that’s all we can really hope for nowadays.
Bobbybee
May 28, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Comment #2What? Less than two million? Must be crap, right? Wrong.
From what I’ve seen of this lad this could be Rafa pulling another rabbit out the hat. Looks a very decent player, although difficult to judge obviously because of the opposition.
That said, if Rafa fancies him I can see why. The cost means nothing. Lascelles, Merino, Lejeune, Dubravka show you don’t have to buy ready made superstars for our world class manager; he can develop raw talent. Don’t write this one off, it may just have legs and he may just surprise a few people.
ShirebrookToon
May 28, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Comment #3Could be a real gem this kid, under Rafas guidance of course
Bobbybee
May 28, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Comment #4https://youtu.be/yTYXNSdBPFA
Check him out. At that price great competition for Perez.
c-dog
May 28, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #5We’re already overloaded with dead weight, you said it
magscar
May 28, 2018 at 2:47 PM
Comment #6REPOST didn’t see bus!
magscar
May 28, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #15
Bobby
Too many seem happier with your No 3 option and I suspect (as you were driving at earlier) many of those might be latter supporters ( because of age) and therefore lack the longer perspective and awareness of problems we have suffered going back to 60’s.
Some are clearly older, Lesh and hibbit to name 2 recent posters, but can’t seemingly move past Ashley. Thats OK but they should also accept others may not want to get bogged down in the Ashley hatred and try their best to retain positivity especially as we now have our (potentially) best manager in my lifetime.
I have posted several times since sale fell through that Ashley had better retain Rafa because the alternative will bring about nothing seen before. I still hope he has enough sense to be persuaded to that conclusion. His tenure simply depends on it. I am not panicing as yet as Rafa definitely wants to be here and Ashley wants or needs him to be so if there is the will on both sides find a way to make it happen!!
c-dog
May 28, 2018 at 2:47 PM
Comment #7Although this guy isn’t a stoke reject so I wouldn’t say it’s a brain dead a move as Joselu. Least there’s unknowns with this guy. Joselu was proven garbage
Bobbybee
May 28, 2018 at 2:49 PM
Comment #8https://youtu.be/8AwI1IhXycg Well thought of. I can see this as a Rafa signing myself.
Munster Mag
May 28, 2018 at 2:51 PM
Comment #9C dog, bobby is an nufc addict. I understand him. So am I. It’s just what we are. Howay Bobby man. I may be worse than Bobby because I’ve done it since a kid in Ireland. Good man Bobby. Mc keag, what a toffee nosed tool.
Munster Mag
May 28, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Comment #10Bobby if we get him fast it’s an even better sign that Rafa wants him in quick. Ie that he, ‘s good
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 28, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #11@Bobby
Yeah he looks quick and strong which are pretty much necessary to have a chance in England!
Scouting players is so difficult you just never know how they will do when they come here Selz in Belgian team of the year didn’t work out Dubruvka hardly getting a game for his previous club and plucked out of obscurity does the business !
Could this be another gem that we pick up or another duffer ? By the looks of things he seems to have a good work ethic as well
c-dog
May 28, 2018 at 2:58 PM
Comment #12Ashley will have no problem signing off on this guy. Good age and could have a nice little sell on value. And if it doesn’t work out who cares. Sure we’re still getting the Sissoko payments.
ShirebrookToon
May 28, 2018 at 3:01 PM
Comment #13The runs he makes with the ball remind me of Ben Arfa. Strong aswell which is a good attribute to have in the EPL
Jib
May 28, 2018 at 3:03 PM
Comment #14Joselu wasn’t a brain-dead move.
He was acquired to perform specific functions to order.
.
Remind again me where in the PL table we finished ?
Jib
May 28, 2018 at 3:05 PM
Comment #15Munster
which McKeag ?
Senior – thought he was Winston Churchill
Junior – Gordon – was a typical Gosforth arsehole
willowdalerez
May 28, 2018 at 3:07 PM
Comment #162 comments on Mrabti. 1 Upbeat, 1 cynical and downbeat.
First, his transfer fee may be artificially low because his team know they’re going to lose him on a free in January if they don’t sell him now. If they had him locked up for another 2-3 years they might easily get more (closer to 5m in this market). They are probably just thinking get something for him now and 1-2m probably goes a long way in that league.
Second, after the disappointment of the last 3 transfer windows I’d rather keep my expectations low with the possibility of being pleasantly surprised than get all upbeat (like some on here… Bobbybee and co.) who seem to believe Ashley will be a born again owner under the tutelage of (and “necessity” of keeping) Rafa. So I’d reword the following from Ed’s article:
“Newcastle transfer target Kerim Mrabti may be one of the early transfers Rafa is able to close for Newcastle this summer.”
to:
“Newcastle transfer target Kerim Mrabti may be one of ONLY early transfers Rafa is able to close for Newcastle this summer.”
Think on it, that’s not an unreasonable assumption if the last 3 windows are anything to go on.
OneAlanShearer
May 28, 2018 at 3:19 PM
Comment #17Looks to have good potential. Certainly worth a punt.
bettyswallocks
May 28, 2018 at 3:52 PM
Comment #18Bobby……… Looks alright . Good ball control and an eye for goal and fairly strong in possession. Young enough to improve and won’t break the bank so ticks a lot of boxes,
lesh
May 28, 2018 at 4:06 PM
Comment #19magscar
Me and Hibbit old?
I can’t speak for Hibbit, but I resemble that remark though I’d imagine Hibbit would too. Being 109, I’m sure that’s not that owld
_Hercules_
May 28, 2018 at 7:13 PM
Comment #20I live in sweden and seen him play.
To call him the next Hazard is a joke. Actually never even heard anybody call him that.
But he is a good player with lots of tallent. Great vision and works realy hard.
My qoncern is his physiqe. He is a small player.
He is hard to rate, innthe swedish league he is one of the best players. But campares to the PL that doesn’t say much. But could be a bargain. But IF youre hoping fot the next Hazard i think you will be disipointed 😉
kc2012
May 28, 2018 at 10:17 PM
Comment #21People seem the be writing this guy off allover twitter etc because they don’t ‘know of’ him. Perez was very unknown and now a very decent player. The Swedish league is a very technical league, I lived there last Year and watched a lot of their football. Ostersunds turned Arsenal over in the Europa league at the Emirates and they’re in the same league. At that price from what I can see of him he looks worth a punt. What does €1.5m buy you these Days? Alexis Sanchez wages for 2 weeks maybe