LISBON, PORTUGAL - SEPTEMBER 24: Gonzalo Plata of Sporting CP during the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round match between Sporting CP and Aberdeen at Estadio Jose Alvalade on September 24, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
According to The Sun (h/t Chronicle Live), Newcastle are pondering over a move for Gonzalo Plata. The Sporting CP winger has caught the attention of clubs after his performances in the last season.
The Portuguese outfit are hoping for a loan-to-buy deal which would get them around £20million. Several other clubs such as West Ham, Leicester and Brighton are also said to be in the race for the player.
The 20-year-old Plata spent time at the academies of Ecuadorian clubs Fedeguauyas and LDU Quito, before joining Independiente’s youth setup. Having progressed through the ranks, the winger broke into the first-team in 2018. Only 13 appearances later, in which he scored one goal and assisted one, he was signed by Sporting in the summer of 2019.
Plata spent the early part of his career at the Portuguese club with the reserves. But since the turn of the year, he has been a regular fixture in the first-team. To date, he has made 29 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and setting up two more. A full international for Ecuador, Plata has already made 8 appearances for them, scoring thrice.
It’s very surprising that Newcastle have just one natural right-winger in their squad, who is Jacob Murphy. Not to sound harsh, Murphy is a bang average player at best. Sure the likes of Almiron and Fraser can occasionally chip in there but they are not suited to that position.
Signing a natural and talented right-winger should be the club’s immediate priority. This is why they should act on their interest in Gonzalo Plata. He is a winger who can play on either flank but plays predominantly on the right.
A tricky customer, Plata likes to cut in from the right using his left foot and then go on his merry way. He is a goal-scoring winger who would benefit Newcastle. They do need someone other than Callum Wilson to chip in with some goals.
Adding Plata to the forward line of Wilson and Saint-Maximin would make Newcastle’s attack more lethal. The Magpies should try to sign him as soon as they can due to interest from other clubs.
