In a recent report, Milliyet (via Sport Witness) stated that Newcastle United have set their sights on Fenerbahce custodian Altay Bayindir. It has been mentioned that the Magpies are weighing up an offer of around £14m to acquire the signature of the Turkish goalkeeper.
Bayindir’s Solid Run Of Form At The The Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium
The 23-year-old has experienced a solid season in Turkish football as he has been responsible for putting in a few dominant displays in goal for Fenerbahce recently. Bayindir has shipped in 19 goals and secured four clean sheets in 15 appearances for the Turkish giants during this campaign across multiple competitions.
The Bursa-born sensation deserves a pat on the back for averaging 0.6 clearances and 4.8 long balls per game in the Turkish Super Lig. Since the Turkish goalie has often opted to go long with his ball distribution, he has only completed 60.9% of his attempted passes in the Turkish top tier (stats via whoscored).
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Should Newcastle United Boss Eddie Howe Get Bayindir On Board?
Bayindir is a solid handler of the ball and does not shy away from coming out of his lines to make a few last-ditch clearances inside his half. He is a dominant figure inside his penalty area and doesn’t hesitate to venture outside his six-yard box to collect loose balls and crosses when needed.
The Turkish keeper boasts decent reflexes that help him pull off a few impressive saves at the back. He usually gets a lot of distance when putting his foot through the ball but needs to be more accurate with his passing if he wants to succeed at a place like St. James’ Park in the coming seasons.
Eddie Howe needs to bring in a new keeper so that he can enhance the depth of his match-day squad. Hence, Bayindir fits the bill perfectly as he is good enough to fight for a regular starting place at the Tyneside club. At 23, the Fenerbahce keeper has the potential to become a top player in his position someday, so Howe should prioritise on getting him on board next year.
