The Star is reporting today in a Newcastle exclusive that Rafa Benitez is interested in signing Burnley midfielder Dwight McNeil.
The 19-year-old usually plays on the left wing, and Rafa is after somebody who can play in the left wing back position for next season.
That will allow him to move Matt Ritchie in a more forward position.
Everton, Arsenal and Manchester City are also reported to have become interested in a player who has 22 total appearances for Burnley with 3 goals and 5 assists this season.
The Rochdale-born youngster joined the Burnley Youth Academy from Manchester United in 2014, and this has been his breakthrough season in the Premier League: he made his first Premier League start only last August.
Rafa will want to have the right balance in his team of youth coupled with age and experience.
19-year-old Burnley midfielder Dwight McNeil
One of the ways forward for Newcastle is to sign top-class teenagers like McNeil who can become first team players in the future at Newcastle.
However, the impressive 19-year-old will cost more than peanuts, and it will be interesting to see what price Burnley put on their rising young star.
The chances of Burnley wanting to sell to Newcastle in the summer have to be minimal.
McNeil’s contract still has four years to run in June.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
hibbit
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:28 AM
Comment #1it will be a conveyor belt of this kind of rhetoric from players and pundits in fact anyone Bishop can roll out till the wind opens,
then the fake over news will take over with a splash of we tried but Rafa just didn’t want to stay, thrown in for good measure,
same old crap they put out year after year after year !!!!!!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:29 AM
Comment #2Another example of a good young player not making it early doors at the top 6 but when played doing well (Jadon Sancho another example) and we have taken a young midfielder on trial from Man City this week who knows maybe he could be someone who just needs game time in the right environment!
Wouldn’t say no to us signing Charlie Taylor from Burnley , hes fast , can cross a ball , very good defender and is English so would add to our homegrown quota which we will need to top up on if we are losing Hayden , Shelvey etc
By my count we almost need about 8 players in and several out to reshape the squad how about a compromise Ashley?Let Rafa get 3 or 4 with premiership experience in and 3 or 4 who are younger from foreign leagues?
So for example:
Premiership experience:
Mooy – Midfield
Fraser – Winger/Forward
Rondon – Striker
Taylor – Left back
Foreign League:
Nandez – Midfield
Erras – Midfield
Sisto – Forward/Winger
Sebastian Haller – Striker
Also maybe look at Man Utd , City , Chelsea , Arsenal youngsters that could be brought in on loan as well if necessary !
hibbit
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:30 AM
Comment #3window, LOL
Ron Knee
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:30 AM
Comment #4Looking forward to seeing all our new, quality signings showcased at the Premier League Asia Trophy this summer.
lesh
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:32 AM
Comment #5JohnJ
They’ll be fitting a Blue Plaque at the Playhouse….. ‘JohnJ sang here’
hibbit
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:37 AM
Comment #6don’t hold your breath Ron,no guarantee we’ll even have a manager when that kicks off !!
Ron Knee
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:45 AM
Comment #7hibbit
Yes. Looks like another season of mediocrity beckons.
Posh_Geordie
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:46 AM
Comment #8Whilst the point that spending is no guarantee of doing better is correct.
Not spending, has been shown year after year with many teams, is going backwards.
We have no real cover for Rondon and without him we would been much closer to Cardiff and without spending we lose him next season.
widowmagandapoke
Apr 16, 2019 at 2:04 PM
Comment #9If Ashley disappears to his USA hideout again, that is it. The safe door will be shut once again.