With Newcastle United scouts believed to talent spotting in Qatar, it got me thinking which players may have caught the eye of our recruitment team during the World Cup.
The first name that comes to mind? Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat.
Newcastle have been tipped to pursue a holding midfielder for some time, with a host of reports suggesting that position is high on our agenda heading into 2023. Given his high level of performances throughout the tournament, I’d be shocked if Amrabat hadn’t turned a few heads on Tyneside.
The 26-year-old has been the driving force behind the Atlas Lions’ run to the quarter finals, seeing him deliver an incredible performance to tame Pedri, Gavi and Busquets in Morocco’s heroic win over Spain on Tuesday afternoon.
He looks well balanced, strong physically, calm on the ball and plays with an impressive mixture of aggression and intelligence, being described as a ‘monster’ by some in the media following his lung-busting displays so far.
Amrabat is 26 – a good age – and approaching the final 18 months of his contract with Fiorentina, meaning a reasonable deal could be negotiated if he fails to sign a new deal with the Serie A side.
With many believing Bruno Guimaraes is wasted in the holding role, the Moroccan star could be well worth monitoring over the coming months, as he looks tailor-made for the Premier League and one of the breakout stars from this winter World Cup.
Good shout
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