Newcastle's left-winger search - Top contenders, potential targets & transfer verdict
Anthony Gordon’s departure to FC Barcelona leaves Newcastle United with a huge void to fill on the left wing.
The Athletic reports that it is likely to be an overseas import who arrives at St James’ Park and links a few to the club. I will analyse some of these below before suggesting some others that would fit the criteria.
The club may even be forced to sign two left-wingers this summer. Harvey Barnes is entering the final two years of his deal and has been named as one of Aston Villa’s main targets for the summer. Although it would be less than ideal to sell a player to one of our biggest rivals (at least in terms of where the two clubs are aiming to go), it could turn out to be the smart move considering the age of the England international.
Left winger links
Abde Ezzalzouli – Real Betis
One of the names linked in recent weeks has been Abde Ezzalzouli, who has had a breakout season with Real Betis. The winger has contributed 15 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, displaying a level of consistency that he previously hasn’t been able to. He is a high-volume dribbler who can trick his way past opposition players. The Moroccan international is the type of player that we like to see at St James’ Park.
His underlying numbers are very positive, as he averages 2.91 shots, 0.44 big chances created, 1.56 successful dribbles and 5.79 touches in the opposition box per ninety minutes. These underline the threat he poses in the final third.
There is a release clause in his contract that is lower than the fee we received for Gordon, which makes a deal easier to complete. However, there are mixed messages around whether he would be interested in a move or not. If there is a chance to sign him, he is the kind of player that would be well suited to the black and white stripes.
Bazoumana Toure – Hoffenheim
The next three players I’m going to discuss have been linked and will be easier to sign than Ezzalzouli.
Bazoumana Toure has been one of the emerging talents in the Bundesliga and could be set for a big move this summer. He contributed five goals and nine assists in the previous league season. Although the Bundesliga is an easier league to produce high numbers, this is still very impressive for a 20-year-old.
The underlying numbers for Toure are slightly less impressive, as he averaged 1.86 shots, 0.43 big chances created, 1.86 successful dribbles and 5.07 touches in the opposition area. Like Ezzalzouli, he is a player who is very positive with the ball and likes to dribble at opponents, using his impressive pace and athleticism.
One impressive part to Toure’s game is his defensive contribution and willingness to press. He averages 4.92 ball recoveries, and 0.81 possession wins in the final third, showing how well suited he could be to our system.
It is easy to see why his name has been mentioned, as his level of output is very high for a player of his age. However, warnings need to be made about the transition from the Bundesliga.
Said El Mala – FC Koln
Another potential target from the Bundesliga is Said El Mala, who has recently rejected a move to Brentford. This creates uncertainty about whether he would be willing to move to us, but he is certainly a player we should consider. El Mala is even younger than Toure, as he is currently 19 years old. His output in Germany has caught the eye and this could be the last summer he is attainable before an elite club makes a move.
In the recent league season, he contributed 13 goals and four assists in under 2000 minutes. El Mala averaged a goal contribution every 115.2 minutes, which is excellent. Unlike the last two players discussed, El Mala would add a bigger direct goal threat to the forward line.
His shot volume is very high, as he averages 3.45 shots and 0.53 expected goals (xG) per ninety minutes. Further to this, he averages 2.02 dribbles and 6.85 touches in the opposition penalty area. These are very impressive.
El Mala would be an amazing signing for nearly any club in the world. He is still a teenager but producing very good attacking numbers. This would be a coup, but he may be too difficult to attract. El Mala’s rejection of Brentford shows that he won’t move for Premier League money alone.
Victor Munoz – Osasuna
The player that has been most heavily linked in recent days has been Victor Munoz, who is currently plying his trade for Osasuna. He came through the academy at Real Madrid and has been included in the Spanish World Cup squad. This underlines his talent and how he is viewed in his homeland. Unlike the other names discussed, his final third contribution doesn’t catch the eye, with just six goals and two assists to his name.
However, La Liga is considered a stronger league than the Bundesliga, while Osasuna finished 17th. Therefore, it was more difficult for Munoz to produce big attacking numbers, as he was playing in a poorer side. There could be a sharp upturn in his output in a better team.
Taking team quality into consideration, Munoz’s underlying metrics are quite impressive. He averages 2.73 shots, 2.53 successful dribbles and 4.82 touches in the opposition box (per ninety minutes). His creativity is less impressive, with just 0.91 chances created per ninety minutes.
Munoz turns 23 in July and is shorter than Eddie Howe has typically recruited. That being said, he has a high level of potential as his inclusion in the Spanish squad shows.
Other potential targets
Matias Fernandez-Pardo - Lille
The Lille attacker is a player of interest, as NUFC Blog revealed in a recent exclusive last month, but his name has only been tentaively linked via the mainstram media since.
Fernandez-Pardo can be viewed as a more versatile forward option, as he can play in all three positions. He is right-footed, which means he is very good at cutting in from the left into shooting positions. At 21, he has a lot of room to develop.
In the recent Ligue 1 season, he contributed eight goals and five assists. He averages 2.57 shots, 1.36 chances created, 1.36 successful dribbles and 6.96 touches in the opposition penalty area per ninety minutes. Like others discussed above, these are attractive underlying numbers that show his threat.
This summer, he is included in the Belgium World Cup squad, meaning a move will have to wait. He has been linked to some of the biggest clubs in Europe and would represent a coup for us.
Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig
Antonio Nusa could be amongst the most expensive names discussed in this piece, which could mean he is prohibitive for us this summer. However, he should be involved in discussions as he is one of the most exciting left-wing options around. In Norway, he has been compared to Neymar and it is no surprise that he has been recruited by RB Leipzig, as they are one of the most aggressive recruiters of talent.
In the recent Bundesliga season, he contributed four goals and three assists. This doesn’t catch the eye, especially when compared to El Mala and Toure also operating in Germany.
The underlying numbers are more encouraging, as he averages 2.7 shots, 1.46 chances created, 3.01 successful dribbles and 5.4 touches in the opposition penalty area. Further to this, he averages 0.19 xG and 0.23 expected assists (xA) per ninety minutes. If his team-mates had finished the chances he created to a higher standard, his assist number would have been higher.
Nusa is an explosive talent, as shown by his dribbling numbers. His potential is huge and he could be a player that bursts onto the scene at the summer’s World Cup. There will be some concerns over his final ball though and that could mean others are preferred.
Mika Godts – Ajax
If there are concerns over Nusa’s final ball, there will be no similar worries about Mika Godts. The Ajax attacker contributed 17 goals and 12 assists across the Eredivisie season. The Eredivisie is a high output league for attackers and players that have moved to England haven’t always thrived. It is impossible not to be impressed by his output though, as Godts is also still only 20-years-old.
As expected, the other metrics stand out for Godts. The attacker averages 2.68 shots, 2.61 chances created, 2.85 successful dribbles and 6.67 touches in the opposition penalty area. He has been helped by Ajax being one of the best teams in the division, but he has managed to stand out in that team.
Due to the difficult transition from the Eredvisie, some clubs will be put of Godts. There are others on this list that carry less risk, but his high productivity means he has to be an option for us in our search for a Gordon replacement.
Verdict
From researching for this piece, it is easy to see why the club decided it was the right time to sell Gordon. The amount of exciting young left wingers in Europe is huge and there are a lot of them yet to move to elite clubs.
Out of the names discussed, Ezzalzouli feels the one that carries the least risk. He has already performed very well for a club that is operating in a similar place in their respective league to us.
However, some of the others have higher ceilings. El Mala and Nusa feel the best two in that regard, but they will also probably be the most difficult deals to do.
The local press have been keen to put forward Munoz as the primary target in that position, but they have been used to put forward false narratives before, allowing the club to move on another target in the background.
If he is the one, you can see what he can offer, with his good dribbling and high level of technical ability.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the club agree to move Barnes on given his contract situation and Villa’s interest. There is a big pool of potential targets and the club could choose to bring two of them in.
Stats taken from Fotmob
