The Mail are reporting today that Newcastle are making a move for 26-year-old Japan international striker Yoshinori Muto who now seems a real target for Rafa Benitez.
The £9M rated striker performed well for Japan in the World Cup and has been linked with Newcastle all summer long.
Talks are said to be at an advanced stage for the 26-year-old, and the fee is an initial £9M – perhaps with bonuses linked to how he performs t Newcastle.
26-year-old Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto – turned down Chelsea in May 2015
Muto is not a prolific goalscorer, but he is a good mobile striker.
He moved to Mainz from FC Tokyo back in the summer of 2015, and since then he has played 71 times with 23 goals and 11 assists for the Bundesliga club.
Last season he has scored 10 goals and 5 assist in 30 total games.
When Muto moved to Mainz from FC Tokyo back in 2015, he had the chance to join Chelsea but he turned them down because he thought Mainz was the right level for him.
He would be a decent buy for Newcastle at £9M and he does have class and skill – things Rafa is looking for in players he brings to the club this summer.
There’s also news that goalkeeper Matz Sels is close to a move to Strasbourg in France for £3.5M.
We are also reported to be close to getting Fabian Schar for his £3.5M relegation release clause from Deportivo La Coruna.
The Mail are reporting he is supposed to be having a medical today before his move to Tyneside – he would be a terrific buy for Newcastle especially for a fee of only £3.5M – a real bargain.
Fabian is a classy center-back who starred for Switzerland in the World Cup in Russia.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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231 comments so far
Toondog2
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:12 PM
Comment #1Looking better if we can get them over the line
Markaccus
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:15 PM
Comment #2Almost 1 in 3, which i accept isnt exactly stellar, but it isnt exactly rubbish either. Again, we could certainly end up with worse.
Markaccus
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:23 PM
Comment #3I’d still rather we signed Welbeck over Help-me-rondon help-help-me-rondon
Mister Tuff
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:24 PM
Comment #4Better return than Rondon – that’s for sure.
Mister Tuff
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:26 PM
Comment #5Muto that is.
RUNAWAY777
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:28 PM
Comment #6Off to turkey friday for 4 days hope we have some signing by the time i get back.
L Toon
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Comment #7Benitez doesn’t do prima donas or fancy dans. He likes strong flair players who can make the right decisions at the right time to win the game. Muto seems to do just that. I know its only you tube but he has clever movement, good on the ball, looks to be able to play anywhere across the front and has alot of intelligence. Looks good on the counter attack and running with the ball as well. If we could get muto, bryan and schaar and then sell mitrovic for the same price i think that would be good business. Swap gayle for rondon and then offer Chelsea 20 mill for loftus cheek. Weve only got to hope that tubbs stumps up the cash and charnley can do the deal.
The two things mr tubbs wants from the club is advertising for s**** direct wich he gets no matter what league we are in and the club to wip its own nose as he says hes not putting anymore money in the club. The optimist says thats hes reducing the loan but i reckon hes holding back for a promotion push if we are relegated. Mr tubbs and the three cronies out.
Polarboy
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:35 PM
Comment #8@Mister Tuff
Rondon’s record was a fair bit better in Russia and Spain. Germany is an alright league but about comparable to Spain, perhaps a bit worse. Point being that you can’t compare Rondon’s record to Muto’s when Muto hasn’t even kicked a ball in the premier yet. With regard Rondon I haven’t completely written him off in terms of being a player who can get 15 goals a season in the premier. Any striker who has played predominately under Pulis and then Pardew, should be given a chance to show it wasn’t just their shocking tactics.
Jammy-D
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:36 PM
Comment #9ToonRich
Ahh thanks. I’d be interested though.
hibbit
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:39 PM
Comment #10L Toon
there’s a huge difference between the global exposure in the premiership and the championship so as far as the advertising is concerned it will matter
ashleysmate
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:40 PM
Comment #11I just hope non of the potential signings have release clauses in their contract?!!
TomaKaThor
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Comment #12Brighton about to break there transfer record for the second time this summer.
lukes26
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:51 PM
Comment #13L Toon
I noticed the same thing with Muto: Smart movement, good on the ball.
Scoring a goal every 3rd game is okay…Mainz narrowly avoided relagation though..wasnt surrounded by very good players
To me he seems more like a # 10 than a 9..but I havent seen of him to really know.
L Toon
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:54 PM
Comment #14Hibbit
Absolutely, he will still get it just not nearly as much. But i think hes holding funds back so he doesnt have to put anymore money in if were relegated to fund a promotion push. I think mr tubs thinks if were in the premier league great but if were relegated then as long as the club can cover itself, then fine. As long as it doesn’t cost him any money. Then the whole rigmarol begins again. The club would still then be worth 400 million to the greedy oaf. Only this time there will be no rafa benitez to ride to the rescue. If he honestly thinks the club is still as valuble without rafa then he really is as thick as pig excrement. Mr tubs out.
ToonRich
Jul 25, 2018 at 5:56 PM
Comment #15@Jammy-D…posted by Dubai this morning:
You buy original 2018/19 shirts for $70 here, no sponsors name.
https://www.soccer.com/shop/details/puma-newcastle-home-jersey-18-19_A1014383
Canuck Mag
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Comment #16Or here
https://m.dhgate.com/search.do?key=newcastle+united&cid=&tag=&scht=ss1
Canuck Mag
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #17Chinese knock offs, but do the trick. And you know Ashley won’t see a dime
L Toon
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #18Lukes26
He would certainly add a new dimension to our attack, very tactically flexible. But i cant see us signing any striker unless that clown penfold can sell mitrovic.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:05 PM
Comment #19Presumably this chap is Mitrovic replacement and as we still require a focal point, big presence number 1 striker?
If not it’s just a cheap replacement.
L Toon
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:06 PM
Comment #20Brighton have completed the club-record signing of winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh from Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar.
The 24-year-old Iran international has signed a five-year contract and we understand the fee to be around £17m.
Tosun A. Wobbler
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:07 PM
Comment #21L Toon @14….on your wavelength, but I think if we are relegated again, and Rafa walks, MA WILL poop his long johns, and want to be back in the PL as soon as possible. He may well release lots of cash to whoever he appoints, and there lies the rub. There are very few decent managers who will work for him now, and who have the skills to get back up at all, never mind first time. It’s happened twice, he’d be an arrogant mug (well yes I know he is) to think he can buy it a third time. Course that’s just my slant on it.
L Toon
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:32 PM
Comment #22Tosun A. Wobbler
Agreed, but the excrement would hit the fan to such a point it would hopefully force his hand. Even then he would still ride it out knowing him. Then it would be up to penfold to appoint another yes man like mccardew. He has absolutely no credibility left anymore. Hypothetically if we were relegated, and the club couldn’t fund itslef and he had to put more money in. Will he then demand over 400 million? The mysterious debt to him that never seems to get any smaller and just hangs around the club like a 10 tonne weight.
ToonMatt
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:33 PM
Comment #23Don’t know if anyone has seen this but I’m on the sports direct site and the new home shirt is reduced to £54.99? I’m not buying it, was just looking.
Seems strange it’s changed in price?
Mister Tuff
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:42 PM
Comment #24Polarboy – I note you do not mention all the sitters Rondon missed last season. It is a common complaint from WBA fans. I am talking about open goals, putting efforts wide which really has little to do with style of play/tactics.
If we sign him I would hope he scored a boatload – but I just cannot see him as our goal machine. Getting my shout in as how I rate him now.
jarra lad
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:49 PM
Comment #25Would rather have Muto than that Venezuelan Rondon – we’d be Caracas to buy him!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:49 PM
Comment #26Looks like Jails polite enquiries worked! 🙂
DubaiMicky
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:53 PM
Comment #27So they are toonmatt, and look at the sizes…PumaNewcastle United Home Shirt 2018 2019
£54.99 £64.99
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL, 6XL
How big is 6XL?
Tosun A. Wobbler
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:55 PM
Comment #28Toon L…. yup! It’s a riddle, wrapped in a dilemma, wrapped in an enigma. 🙂 Alternatively if we avoid the R word, Rafa stays, and delivers more success in the form of a higher position or (whispered) a cup run, will we see Jaba’s asking price stay at 400 million or mysteriously creep higher? Wouldn’t put it (or anything) past him.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #29DubaiMicky
They come with tent poles! 🙂
Tosun A. Wobbler
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:57 PM
Comment #30Mickey….to fit Ashley!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 25, 2018 at 6:58 PM
Comment #31L Toon
Makes the club a bit like “The Ancient Mariner”
9
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:01 PM
Comment #32Not quite sure what to make of the mentality of fans of a team that finished 10th and has not (yet) been weakened, same manager, talking about relegation before a ball is kicked. Something wrong somewhere.
lochinvar
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:07 PM
Comment #33Toonmatt@23
My guess is that the shirts have been sold initially at an artificially inflated retail price so that after a statutory number of days they can be advertised at a discounted “special price” offer to make customers think they’re getting a good deal. It’s common practice these days. The margins Sports Direct make on this type of merchandise is astronomical. They’d still be in profit at £9.99 yet alone these prices. The fabric costs pence and the poor blighters producing them will be paid no doubt at a minimum wage level for their country but even so that’s likely to be next to nothing by our standards.
Tosun A. Wobbler
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:08 PM
Comment #34Toon L…..that’s us told!
lochinvar
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:09 PM
Comment #35Dubai
6XL is Ashley’s size as he likes to wear the kit and look smart for formal occasions.
lochinvar
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:13 PM
Comment #36Chinese fans are besotted with red as a lucky colour such as worn by Man Utd and Liverpool so no coincidence that we haven’t signed a Chinese player.
Remember how the Cardiff owner changed their shirts to red for the Thai market, now restored to blue.
The Koreans and Japanese are not so easily swayed so no coincidence in Ashley’s strategy here.
Tosun A. Wobbler
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:14 PM
Comment #37L Toon…..for some reason I keep typing Toon L. Sorry!
lochinvar
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:20 PM
Comment #38If you want a distraction from transfer talk this is insight into the sponsorship desks out there
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/4884500b-8be7-492d-86fd-470a8c785f47
Lindisfarne
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:24 PM
Comment #39Muto would not appear to be an out and out striker, as he has never got into double figures whilst at Mainz but appears to drive forward with the ball and pass it to the resulting space created. Very much like our existing second striker Perez and would be a like for like replacement. I had hoped to see Ki perhaps used in the attacking midfield role, in a more of a 433 formation and Perez using his guile as the main striker. However, we shall have to wait and see what combination of players best works once the squad has been established and the league begins.
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 25, 2018 at 7:37 PM
Comment #40I’ll continue to take a broad and thoughtful view of the various goings on at the club, and I’ll continue to express myself civilly and affably in the main and very occasionally colourfully. That’s what’s going to happen.