According to The Northern Echo, Newcastle United are weighing up a move for Huddersfield Town ace Aaron Mooy in the summer.
The 28-year-old Australian international has been one of the most consistent players for Huddersfield over the last three seasons, helping the Terriers win promotion to the Premier League and also playing a crucial role in their relegation battle in the top flight last term.
However, with relegation looking inevitable for Huddersfield this time around, Mooy may not fancy a return to the Championship, having successfully made the step up to the Premier League.
Mooy is likely to be one of the in-demand relegation bound stars in the summer and Rafael Benitez is apparently keen on getting the Australian on board.
The midfielder has racked up an impressive tally of 10 goals and 15 assists from 113 appearances for Huddersfield in all competitions, a record which would appeal to some of the mid-table clubs in the top flight.
To put things into perspective, the acquisition of Aaron Mooy would be a big coup for Newcastle given that the Magpies are in danger of facing a potential burnout of options in the midfield at the end of the season.
The futures of Mo Diame, Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey at Tyneside are all up in the air and losing all three of them in the summer would severely deplete their squad depth.
Mo Diame has reportedly fallen out with the club over contract talks, with the veteran demanding a long-term deal.
Newcastle, though, remain keen on offering Diame a one-year extension, and with Crystal Palace and Brighton showing interest in the 31-year-old, he might as well head for the exit door to look for better options. (h/t Daily Star)
Isaac Hayden, on the other hand, has established himself as a regular figure in Benitez’s starting eleven since the turn of the year but the former Arsenal academy product has expressed his desire to leave the club in the summer to stay close to his family (h/t Chronicle Live).
Jonjo Shelvey has struggled for form and fitness this season and the Newcastle Chronicle reports that the Magpies might get him off their books in the summer, with West Ham interested in paying £20 million to bring back their former player. (h/t Daily Mail)
Well, things do not look too bright for Newcastle in the midfield department and the club’s links with Aaron Mooy should certainly please the fans.
The 28-year-old is a tenacious, hardworking and tough-tackling midfielder who excels in a box-to-box role in the middle, although he has occasionally been used in a more advanced attacking role and also in a deeper defensive role at Huddersfield.
Mooy is a midfield enforcer, who keeps things ticking with his work-rate and wonderful range of passing, whilst also breaking up the play with crucial tackles and producing game-changing moments with his excellent eye for a pass.
Calm and composed in possession with plenty of quality on the ball, Mooy controls a large area in the middle of the park, dictating the tempo of the game and often drifting wide to link up with his teammates. His crossing from the flanks and deliveries from set-pieces are of the highest quality and his presence would undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to a team like Newcastle.
Mooy boasts of a pass accuracy percentage of 80.6 in the Premier League this season, averaging 2.1 successful long balls, 2.3 tackles, 1.6 key passes and 1.6 crosses per game, figures which speak volumes of his well-rounded attributes as a central midfielder.
Newcastle can certainly expect youngster Sean Longstaff to hit greater heights next season, having enjoyed a wonderful breakout season this term. Ki Sung-Yueng is a decent option to have but someone like Mooy can add that extra bit of creativity to a workmanlike midfield.
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That said, Newcastle should do everything in their power to strike a deal for the Australian ace in the summer.