Transfer Speculation
As per one of the latest reports by Forza Italian Football, Newcastle United are believed to be monitoring Sampdoria’s midfielder, Dennis Praet. Rafael Benitez has placed him very high in his summer transfer window’s wish-list, but he is seemingly likely to be tempted by other clubs as well. The Serie A outfit had paid €10million to secure his signature in the summer of 2016 and thus, signing him would be a costly affair.
Fact File
Praet emerged through the youth ranks of SJV Motbroek, Stade Leuven, OH Leuven, Genk and Anderlecht and then went to establish himself in the senior side of Anderlecht. He plied his trade regularly while he was in the ranks of the Belgian outfit and had made a solid impression despite his young age. In 2016, he moved to Sampdoria and has represented the Belgian national side once. Thus, he has accumulated plenty of experience under his belt.
Attributes & Season So Far
The 23-year-old operates as a central midfielder and is not only good at shielding the back line but he is also capable of galloping forward to score goals and create chances for his teammates. He dribbles in a meticulous fashion, showcases immense work-ethic and keeps him calm and composure in crunch situations. Thanks to his exceptional ability of reading the game in a shrewd manner, he times his tackles perfectly and knits the side together as a unit with his passes and vision.
In 24 appearances in Serie A this season, Praet has smashed 3 goals and has registered a pass accuracy of 83.7%. Besides, he has also made 2.4 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 0.4 clearance per game on an average. However, the Belgian international has been criticized for his improper finishing techniques and also needs to be sound aerially. However, the Belgian international is in his learning years and given that he is still young, he should be able to brush himself further in the coming seasons to convert himself into a complete package.
Why Benitez Needs Him?
The Magpies are seemingly likely to stay in the Premier League next season and the next task for Benitez would be to better his side’s credential. The former Napoli boss needs reinforcements in the summer to enhance the quality of his arsenal and someone like Praet would be a decent signing. However, he lacks experience of English football and this might be a cause of concern for Benitez in his pursuit of signing the midfielder.
