Ryan Babel has indicated he will leave Fulham at the end of the season as he wants to be part of the Netherlands’ Euro 2020 squad.
The Dutchman, 32, joined Fulham from Besiktas in January 2019 on a deal until the end of the season. He has scored four goals and provided as many assists in 13 appearances for the Cottagers, although Fulham’s relegation has been confirmed earlier this month.
With Fulham being relegated, Babel seeks a move away from Craven Cottage when his contract expires in June 2019. Surprisingly, he has been linked with a move to Newcastle United, report the Daily Star.
Newcastle have achieved safety for the second successive season in the Premier League. They are currently 13th in the table, having crossed the magic 40-point mark at the weekend with a 3-1 victory over Southampton.
With top-flight survival achieved, Rafael Benitez’s attention should shift to the summer transfer window. The Magpies need fresh faces in the squad to make a statement in the 2019/20 campaign. Newcastle’s decision to break their transfer record in January for Miguel Almiron suggested the club has ambitions to compete with the big boys in the Premier League.
But high spending over the summer is unlikely, given the financial constraints the club have had since Mike Ashley bought the club in 2007. Thus, signing Ryan Babel would be a step in the right direction for a cash-hit club like Newcastle.
Babel, who has worked earlier under Benitez at Liverpool, has done extremely well in an underperforming Fulham side. The winger has shown that he still has two to three years of high-quality football left in himself. At 32, he still possesses good pace and agility to trouble the defenders.
The Netherlands international’s main attributes are his strength, aerial prowess and ability to make runs behind the defenders.
Blessed with a sound technique, he combines his strength with his technique to hold on to the ball and keep good close control in tight areas. The former Ajax man has the ability to lose his marker inside the box, creating the opening for his teammates to pick out the right pass.
Babel has a good eye for goal and has a powerful strike in his right foot. Furthermore, his strength and power to outmuscle defenders in the box and ability to time headers to perfection makes him a genuine threat from set-pieces and corners.
As things stand, Newcastle lack a genuine, prolific wide-man that can consistently supply with assists and goals. Much of the Magpies’ success this season has been down to the exploits of Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez.
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That needs to change from next season as the Tyneside-based side also needs goals from midfielders and wingers. Babel has shown plenty of promise on his return to the Premier League and his acquisition in the summer would certainly help Newcastle hit greater heights next season.