In a recent report, The Telegraph (subscription required) stated that Newcastle United are showing interest in landing Southampton full-back Romain Perraud this month. It is understood that the Magpies are looking to sign a new left-back during this January transfer period and have identified the French sensation as an ideal target.
Perraud’s Recent Form At The St. Mary’s Stadium
Perraud has been a sporadic presence in Southampton’s first-team during this campaign but has put in a few solid displays on the left side of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s defence. The 24-year-old has made nine appearances for the Saints this season but is still waiting to score or create his first goal for the club.
The French talent has been a solid presence on the defensive end of the field as he is averaging 1.9 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 2.3 clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League. However, he has given away the ball cheaply at times based on his pass success rate of 62.9% in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
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Is Perraud A Good Fit For Newcastle United?
Perraud has got an excellent work rate as he usually produces a tireless shift defensively inside his half. He is a good tackler of the ball and can make some important interceptions at the back. The Saints defensive ace doesn’t take too many risks when clearing his lines and packs a lot of power with his shot attempts from long range.
However, Perraud can sometimes give away possession cheaply when passing the ball from the left flank. Furthermore, he has struggled to score or assist any goals for Southampton this season.
Still, Perraud will be a decent fit for Newcastle United as they need a defensive-minded left-back who can keep a good defensive shape at the back. He will be an upgrade over Jamal Lewis and Matt Ritchie at St. James’ Park. We can expect Perraud to add some bite and steel to Eddie Howe‘s defence. More importantly, he could help the Magpies get out of relegation danger in the second half of this Premier League campaign.
