Newcastle United are on the verge of being taken over, and if the deal goes through, the Toon are going to be one of the wealthiest clubs in the world. It is but natural that they would look to bring some of the biggest players in world football to build a side capable of challenging for silverware.
The Bild now reports that Newcastle are eyeing Bayern defender Lucas Hernandez in their effort to upgrade the defence. While some of the biggest of the stars could still have a mindset to not move to a developing club like Newcastle, Bayern outcast Hernandez can be a realistic target.
From Atletico to Bayern Munich
The French international was spotted very early by Atletico Madrid, and he spent his youth career for the Spanish team till 2014. After that, he was promoted to the first team where he made 67 appearances at the heart of the defence. Gradually he became an integral part of the team, starting numerous matches as the first choice.
Last summer, the defender made a move to Bayern Munich for a massive transfer fee of €80 million, a club record for the German champions. However, since his big-money move, his form has deteriorated. Apart from that, the Frenchman has struggled to recover his fitness from the injury to the medial collateral ligament of his right knee, and that has not helped his cause either.
This season Hernandez has appeared in 11 league matches for the club, mainly acting as a backup for Boateng and Alaba. Many may argue that he is too expensive to be warming the benches, but his form all the fitness issues have prevented his inclusion in the first team.
What would he bring to Newcastle United?
For a club like Newcastle United who are trying to assemble a new squad, roping in the best defenders of the world would be a challenge. This is where Hernandez would be a great help. His entry into the team would ensure that the pedigree of the club goes a notch up, meaning more prominent stars would be attracted the following seasons. Being an outcast of the Bayern team, the FIFA World Cup winner would be relatively cheap as compared to his counterparts, and in a post-pandemic world, money would be of utter importance to the club owners.
As a left-sided central defender, Lucas is very calm on the ball and has already shown that his passes are precise. His ball control is excellent, as is his ability to make quick decisions. The 24-year-old has helped Bayern with their attack and build-up play while displaying his crossing prowess in the limited appearances he has made so far.
However, his biggest asset is his clean tackling ability, which makes him less likely to commit fouls. Overall, Lucas Hernandez would be an ideal fit for the Tyneside club, and the board should not think twice about bringing him to St. James’ Park.
