Valentino Lazaro is on loan from Inter Milan (Getty Images)
According to The Sun, Newcastle United are in talks over a £21million permanent transfer for Inter Milan star Valentino Lazaro.
The Austrian winger recently joined the Magpies in January on loan until the end of the season, making five appearances for them across all competitions. The 24-year-old, who has found the back of the net once for Steve Bruce’s side, however, had a clause inserted in his initial move, which now offers Newcastle a chance to sign him on a permanent basis.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are eagerly awaiting the £300million takeover by a Saudi Arabian consortium which will allow them to splash the cash to make Lazaro’s move a permanent one.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, are in need of some funds to bolster their squad’s options ahead of next summer and are willing to offload Lazaro either permanently or on loan.
The Antonio Conte-led side already have as many as seven players who are capable of playing across the flanks and want to make the maximum out of the £20million they paid Hertha Berlin for Lazaro back in the summer of 2019.
He has featured 11 times in total this season for the Nerazzuri and has two assists to his name. That said, Newcastle must make the best out of this situation and try to land him.
At the moment, Newcastle just have three wingers including Lazaro – Christian Atsu, and summer signing Allan Saint-Maximin. However, both of them prefer playing across the left, meaning they are left with no one who can play across the right. Predominantly a right-midfielder, Lazaro, however, has been deployed as a right-back by Bruce ever since he arrived at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies coach has been clearly unimpressed by the side’s current set of right-backs that had seen Lazaro feature in four of their last five league outings. The season had so far witnessed coach Bruce hand over the full-back duties to Emil Krafth, DeAndre Yedlin, and Javier Manquillo. However, none of them succeeded in establishing themselves as regulars, which saw Bruce rely on Lazaro.
Considering the fact that the Austrian was selected over the rest of the side’s permanent right-backs, it is clear that he is in the manager’s plans at the moment. Also, being a versatile player, Lazaro is capable of playing anywhere across the right, which, in turn, could prove to be a valuable asset for the Magpies in the coming days.
Hence, they need not think twice before signing him as he could be of great help to Bruce’s side if they wish to better their displays next season.
It is clear that Newcastle lack depth on the right flank, and who better than Lazaro, who seems to have impressed manager Bruce. Moreover, he is still young and has plenty of time to develop if given more game time. Lazaro is also flexible playing in a variety of positions across the wings, which he has already proved at Newcastle and his parent club Inter Milan.
