The Newcastle United supporters in the Transfer Tavern are hoping their club will make at least one marque signing this summer, and recent reports suggest their wish may come true in the coming months.
According to a recent report from the Shields Gazette, Rafa Benitez is interested in signing Manchester United’s sensational youngster Marcus Rashford this summer. Despite struggling to hold down a regular starting berth under Jose Mourinho last season, Rashford contributed 22 goals last season with 13 goals and 9 assists in all-competitions, and the 20-year-old earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad in the process.
Although Newcastle’s interest is ambitious to say the least, his progress at Old Trafford suggests that a loan deal is not beyond the realms of possibility and may actually appeal to Rashford. The intensity of the competition for first-team places limited Rashford to just 17 starts in the Premier League last season in which he struggled to showcase the full extent of his obvious talent.
When he is on song, Rashford is one of the most enthralling attacking players to watch in English football, but his flair and creativity have been stifled somewhat by Mourinho’s tactical approach and the stop-start nature of his career so far. Under a quality manager such as Benitez who would have no qualms about trusting in him and starting him on a regular basis – providing his attitude was right – Rashford would be well-placed to take a significant step forward in his development.
At this moment in time, Rashford’s infectious charismatic style of play suggests he is the type of player who would thrive off being the centre-of-attention and the main man in attack, and he would undoubtedly become a focal point for the Magpies if he swapped Old Trafford for St James’ this summer.
In turn, the quality of his performance should improve along with his goal-scoring proficiency and, providing his new Newcastle teammates emulate the same level of performance next season that they demonstrated during the final 4 months of the season, Benitez would have a fantastic opportunity to mastermind a charge towards Europa League football.
Newcastle are a club who are crying out for a marque superstar signing and the arrival of a quality goal-scoring talent. Rashford fits the bill on both counts, so the club should do everything in their power to secure an audacious loan deal this summer once he has returned from Russia.
Newcastle fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
