Newcastle United fought valiantly against Chelsea in their last match in the Premier League but were not able to come out on top as they tasted their 12th defeat of the season. The loss has taken them to the 18th spot in the Premier League table as the Magpies brace themselves for a relegation battle.
The Tyneside club, suffering a financial turmoil, have been unable to turn their fortune around. However, they have been linked with a few players in the January transfer market and one of them is the Uruguayan international Diego Laxalt.
According to the Italian media outlet Calciomercato, the 25-year-old, who is currently plying his trade for AC Milan, has been on Newcastle’s radar for some time now. However, the Serie A giants have put a price tag in the region of €12 million on the player, which makes the deal a difficult one to crack for the Magpies.
Rafa Benitez’s men have been bogged down by the lack of quality players in their side, and this has hit them hard this season. The inclusion of a player like Laxalt could come in handy for the troubled Magpies, as they could make good use of his versatility both in their defence and midfield.
The former Genoa midfielder could pose a threat to the opposition defence with his darting runs with the ball. With Kenedy failing to replicate his form from the last term, Laxalt could come into the Newcastle side to help them infuse some much-needed threat down the left-hand side.
Also, as a left back, the player could be a brilliant addition to the Newcastle United side. Paul Dummett and Javier Manquillo have not been able to show much resilience in the defence and have failed to build the attacks from the back so far this season. The inclusion of a player like Laxalt would help Rafa’s men develop the attacks from the defence.
However, the price tag that the Rossoneri have put on their prized player might be a turn-off for the Magpies in terms of sealing the deal. If they are able to land the player, it would be a very intelligent addition for Rafa Benitez’s side and could help them in their fight to survive in the top flight.
