31-year old Yuto Nagatomo is on the transfer radar of English clubs Newcastle United, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion according to reports. The left-back who signed for Inter Milan back in 2011 has had an impressive 6-year spell at the club. With his current deal set to expire in 2019, Inter are ready to offer the Japanese star a fresh contract to keep him at the club.
However, if reports are to be believed, Nagatomo is readying himself to seek a fresh challenge after spending six seasons with the Serie A side. Nagatomo’s situation has alerted the English clubs and Newcastle want to snap up the experienced left back should the player leave San Siro.
Nagatomo started his club career with FC Tokyo in 2008. In his four year spell at the club, Nagatomo made 84 appearances before being loaned out to the then newly promoted Serie A side A.C. Cesena.
In January 2011, Cesena signed him on a permanent deal after his impressive performances for club and country in the 2011 Asian Cup. However even before he could make an appearance for the club, the left-back was sent out on loan to Inter Milan in exchange for Davide Santon who moved the other way.
Nagatomo had an impact season at Inter, coming off the bench and scoring impressive goals before going on to becoming a starting left back for the club. He got his first goal for the club within two months scoring a brilliant goal into the roof of the net against Genoa.
Nagatomo became only the second Japanese player to play in the Champions League against Schalke 04.
After six years at the club, Nagatomo, now 31 may feel he needs to try on a fresh challenge; his last major project in European football. This is, at least, what Newcastle will be hoping for since they want to bring the 31-year old to England.
Rafael Benitez has made no secret of the fact that Newcastle United need new players. After a very impressive season in the Championships that saw Newcastle return to the Premier League, Benitez demanded more signings of Premier League standard to establish the club in England’s premier competition. However, with Newcastle unable to sell their existing crop of players, Newcastle has had to deal with a stagnant squad and that has frustrated Benitez.
However, Newcastle United currently have three players in the squad who can play in the left-back position in the form of Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett and Massadio Haidara. With Newcastle’s purse-stringent owner who will definitely not allow Benitez to buy a spree of players, it does not make much sense to spend a chunk of that money on a 31-year old left-back especially when other areas of the squad need more nurturing.
