According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are monitoring the progress of Rony Lopes. The Sevilla winger has been identified as one of the potential targets as the Magpies look to add reinforcements to their attacking department in the upcoming January transfer window.
Rony Lopes’ career so far
A product of SL Benfica youth academy, Lopes was formerly a member of the Manchester City youth side. He moved to Manchester back in 2012, for a fee of €1 million. But, he failed to make even a single Premier League appearance for Man City before leaving the Etihad permanent in 2015.
Lopes joined Monaco for a fee of €12 million. But, after failing to crack the first-team under Leonardo Jardim, he was sent back to LOSC Lille on loan, at the start of 2016. The winger made only 12 league appearances for Lille during the remainder of the 2015/16 campaign, scoring two goals.
The Portuguese returned to Monaco in 2017 and enjoyed a formidable campaign, scoring 15 goals in 38 league appearances. Last season, however, the 23-year-old struggled to perform, just like any other Monaco star.
He scored only two goals in 24 matches, but it was still enough to convince Sevilla, who gambled on the attacker this summer by splashing €25 million.
Lack of recognition at Sevilla
Despite his big-money move to Spain this summer, Lopes has struggled to make himself a first-team regular for Sevilla so far this campaign. He featured in only 11 minutes of league football, often being overlooked due to the presence of Lucas Ocampos and Franco Vazquez.
Newcastle, in that regard, could make use of this situation to strike a cut-price deal to sign Lopes in the upcoming January transfer window. They could even formulate a loan deal with an option to buy clause.
Will Lopes succeed at Tyneside?
Lopes has previously played in England even though he is yet to feature in a single Premier League encounter. He can be an ideal signing for Newcastle United, who lack depth in the wider attacking roles.
Especially following the injury of Allan Saint-Maximin and Matt Ritchie, manager Steve Bruce has had to rely on the services of Christian Atsu and Jetro Willems, with no other reliable alternatives. Lopes, in that regard, should fit right in and provide the ex-Hull City boss with the much-needed depth in attack.
A move to Tyneside will also present him with the opportunity of reviving his career as well as proving Manchester City wrong by performing in the Premier League.
