In a recent report, The Daily Mail stated that Newcastle United are considering launching a late move for KV Oostende defender Jack Hendry this month. It is understood that the Magpies are eyeing a cut-price move to get him on board but could face competition from Southampton, Burnley and West Brom before the transfer window slams shut on August 31st.
Hendry’s Decent Run Of Form In Belgian Football
Hendry had a solid campaign in Belgian football last season when he put in a series of impressive displays for Oostende on the left flank. The Glasgow-born talent made 30 appearances for the Belgian outfit last season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in all competitions.
The 26-year-old gave a good account of himself defensively as he averaged 1.0 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 4.4 clearances per game in the Belgian Jupiler League. He was even excellent with his ball distribution as evidenced by his pass success rate of 85.1% in the Belgian top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Hendry has taken great strides towards improving himself over the past 18 months. Hence, he could prove to be a good acquisition for Newcastle as they could use someone of the Scotland international’s skillset at St. James’ Park in the coming seasons.
Is Hendry A Good Option For The Magpies?
Hendry is a moderately-paced defender who can get stuck in with some solid tackles to hamper the opposition’s rhythm in the game. He can also contribute by making several important clearances for his team on the defensive end of the pitch.
The seven-time Scotland international has got a good work rate and is always willing to put his strong frame on the line to block some shots if needed. However, he is still quite inexperienced at the highest level which makes him a risky target for the Magpies to pursue this month.
However, Hendry is good enough to offer some decent competition for Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark at the Tyneside club over the next few seasons. The Scottish defensive ace could even help Newcastle cope with injuries, suspensions and fixture congestion better in the future.
Therefore, Steve Bruce should think about orchestrating a cut-price to bring him to English football before the transfer window closes on Tuesday night. Even though there are some question marks over whether Hendry can cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football, there is no denying that he has what it takes to fight for a regular starting place in Bruce’s first team this season. Thus, the Oostende talent will be a good option for the Magpies to consider in this summer transfer period.
