Winning is sometimes rudimentary in football and in a relegation battle it all comes down the players you sign in the mid-season transfer windows. Rafael Benitez incidentally has made all the right moves for Newcastle United by signing Kenedy, Martin Dubravka and Islam Slimani on loan. Recent reports have been speculating over the possible transfer approach the Tyneside club might make for Kenedy after the 2017/18 campaign.
While the Magpies were much closer to the relegation spots at the start of the year, the trio has helped the team boost the team back up to the 12th spot, 8 points clear of safety.
Kenedy especially has been prolific under Benitez, scoring 2 and assisting 2 ever since his arrival in January. The Brazilian has found the conditions at St James’ Park optimal to finally start showing what he is capable of. Something he could not manage at Chelsea.
He has cemented a starting birth on the left wing and is proving to be highly impactful on both ends of the pitch.
The United boss was quoted, “It’s more than his energy and pace, he is a player who is comfortable on the ball. His delivery, his crosses and set pieces, he is somebody who is different and he is a player playing with confidence now.”
“We already had a bit of pace with Atsu and Murphy and the ability and work rate of Ritchie, but Kenedy is good on the ball, he does not give it away easily and he gives us more control.”
Kenedy came to Chelsea ahead of the 2015/16 season for a £6.3m transfer from Fluminense. He was another one of those cheap acquisitions, pegged to pay off either a profit or as a rotational option.
However, to Antonio Conte, the 22-year old is only a surplus to his requirements. The Chelsea boss fielded Kenedy in only 360 minutes this season and mostly as a fullback.
Between Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri in the squad, it is imminent that Kenedy will manage a similar role, if not lesser when he returns to Chelsea following this season.
The Tyneside club has put his talents to good use and has proven to be a wonderful home. If anything, Newcastle might just be able to match the £6.3m fee that the West London club paid for him back in July 2015.
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Conte, or whoever takes charge of Chelsea next terms can reinvest the ‘pocket change’ on more necessary additions, like a winger for instance. While Kenedy might be good for Newcastle the talent pool at the Bridge is far more superior and even more demanding. It is best if both clubs arrive at an agreement in the summer window.
