Under the excellent tutelage of Rafael Benitez, Newcastle United are looking firm favourites to get back in the Premier League next season. The Toons are sitting pretty on the summit of the league table and are seemingly likely to get an automatic promotion ticket but then, they would need reinforcements next season.
Here are three Premier League players he can look to bring to St. James’ Park in the summer.
Michael Carrick
Manchester United’s gaffer has hinted in the recent past that the veteran midfielder, Michael Carrick, is too old to be handed a new contract and this must alert promotion hopefuls like Newcastle United. The 35-year-old might be on the wrong side of the thirties but he isn’t a spent force by any means and has at least a couple of good years of top tier football still left in him.
Should the Portuguese remain adamant of not handing the Englishman a fresh contract, Benitez should pounce upon even the slightest of opportunities to sign Carrick, for he has been, by far, the most reliable and consistent midfield commander in the League in recent years.
Carl Jenkinson
The rise of Hector Bellerin at Arsenal has reduced the number of opportunities afforded to other prominent right-backs like Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson. Benitez might be in need to make a couple of adjustments on the right-hand side of his defensive setup and Jenkinson would be an ideal man to discharge the duties.
With due respect to the Magpies, Arsenal are miles ahead of them (quality wise) but then, the 25-year-old defender did accumulate a couple of decent seasons on loan with West Ham United. Jenkinson is at the point in his career where he would want to ply his trade week in and week out, and a move to St. James’ Park should appeal to him.
Tom Cleverley
Tom Cleverley was signed by Everton in the summer of 2015 after being a mediocre player (to be honest) during his tenure at Manchester United. Despite having matured, the plethora of stars at the disposal of Ronald Koeman meant that he was pushed down the pecking order and eventually, he was shipped off to the Vicarage Road by the Dutchman in the January transfer window.
The Geordies would need quality as well as quantity to face the trials of the Premier League and the 27-year-old would be an excellent option for Benitez owing to the fact that he can still get the job.
