Overall, Newcastle United has had a fantastic pre-season. They are coming off a campaign in which they failed to qualify for European football, following their heroics in reaching the Champions League the previous season. Thus, Eddie Howe and his team must rebound in 2024/25 and strive to return to continental competition.
The Magpies have played four preseason games and won three of them. The victories have come against Hull City, Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, and Girona of Spain, with a particularly spectacular 4-0 win. Their only defeat came against another Japanese team, Yokohama F. Marinos.
The Magpies have undoubtedly done well in their pre-season campaign. This has undoubtedly been aided by several significant arrivals during the 2024 summer transfer window. Howe’s team has strengthened its defence with two goalkeepers, including Odysseas Vlachodimos, and defenders Lloyd Kelly and Lewis Hall, as well as attacking firepower in the shape of youthful William Osula.
However, Newcastle may not be done adding attacking reinforcements, as they have just been connected with one Premier League player.
Newcastle target Premier League winger
Dejan Kulusevski, a Tottenham Hotspur winger and Sweden international, is in doubt here. The 24-year-old former Juventus forward produced some of his best performances at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season, but he could leave the club this summer.
According to an exclusive report from NUFC Blog, the Magpies ‘are great admirers’ of the 24-year-old winger and are considering a move for him during the summer transfer window. However, it is dependent on other sales, with the North East club also planning to invest heavily in the transfer of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, who the Eagles value at £65 million, according to Sky Sports.
With that said, Newcastle may decide to pursue a deal to sign the Swede this summer. According to NUFC Blog, he ‘ticks several boxes’, including being only 24, as the Magpies aim to reduce their squad’s average age.
In terms of Kulusevski’s pricing this summer, the report did not specify how much the Lilywhotes would ask for their winger. However, Football Transfers values him at roughly £47.2 million, and Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United captain Gary Neville describes him as a potential “£80 million or £100 million player.”
Why Kulusevski would be a good signing
Kulusevski demonstrated why he was such a menace on the right wing for Spurs last season. In 36 Premier League outings for the North Londoners, the Sweden international scored eight goals and assisted three times.
When in top form, Kulusevski can be simply lethal, cutting in from the right flank with his left foot and working in the half-space on the right, attempting to impact the game creatively in the final third, whether with a shot or a cross. Football scout Antonio Mango described the Swede as a “diamond” of a player.
However, Kulusevski is a flexible player who can also play as number 10, as he did for Ange Postecoglou last season. Neville remarked that the former Parma attacker “can be really special” in that position. In truth, the player himself told Sky Sports that he “always played in the middle” before switching to the right when he joined I Gialloblu.
If the Magpies sign the Swede this summer, they will form an international partnership at club level. Of course, the alliance being discussed here is that of Kulusevski and his Sweden teammate Alexander Isak.
The 24-year-old Newcastle attacker was one of the Premier League’s most lethal strikers last season. According to FBref, Isak scored 21 goals in 30 matches, ranking him third in the top flight.
Despite having played 30 times together for the Swedish national team, Kulusevski and Isak have yet to score a goal. However, this might all change at Newcastle, and with the Spurs attacker’s creative skill and the Newcastle number 14’s clinical propensity in front of goal, it may not be long before the duo score together.
According to FBref, Kulusevski is among the top Premier League wingers and attacking midfielders in terms of creative output. Last season, the former Parma forward averaged 2.38 passes into the penalty box per 90 minutes and 0.62 crosses into the box. That put him in the top 7% and 3% of the top flight’s wingers and number tens.
The former Real Sociedad striker excels in combination play in and around the box due to his quick feet, excellent movement, and impressive close control, as evidenced by the goal below. The Spurs attacker’s numbers show that he, too, enjoys combining in such places, a formula for the St James’ Park side that may cause havoc in the Premier League, especially if the 24-year-old is permitted to wander around in central areas, as he has stated.
Given Kulusevski’s superb attacking ability and creativity in the final third, it would not be shocking if the pair combined for multiple goals and assists in Newcastle’s famed black and white shirt.
The Magpies might get a deal on Kulusevski for approximately £50 million, and Howe could be the key to unlocking the £100 million player Neville indicated. If this is the case, Newcastle might be looking at one of the top players in the Premier League, if not the entire continent, as they strive to return to the pinnacle of European football next season.
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