Why Denzel Dumfries would be a good signing for Newcastle
According to the Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are keeping a close eye on Dutch international right-back Denzel Dumfries with a view to a potential transfer in the January window.
The PSV Eindhoven star had been scouted by the Magpies before the lockdown while he was also on the radar of Manchester United before the Red Devils eventually signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace. However, the 24-year-old’s burgeoning reputation in the Eredivisie has continued to draw admiring glances from the Premier League clubs.
Profile
Denzel Dumfries left Dutch amateur side BVV Barendrecht in 2014 to join Sparta Rotterdam and made his debut in the following year. The right-back won promotion to the Eredivisie with Sparta in 2016 and was named the Eerste Divisie Talent of the Year in the same campaign.
The 24-year-old then joined SC Heerenveen in 2017 and established himself as a quality full-back in the top-flight, registering 4 goals and 8 assists in 37 appearances. A year later, Dumfries was snapped up by PSV Eindhoven and the Dutchman has since amassed an impressive tally of 12 goals and 15 assists in 92 appearances.
Dumfries represented the Netherlands at U-20 and U-21 levels before making his senior international debut in 2018. The right-back has accumulated 11 caps for his nation so far.
Dumfries would add more quality to the Newcastle backline
The acquisition of Jamal Lewis from Norwich City in the summer has sorted out Newcastle’s left-back conundrum but there are several pressing concerns for Steve Bruce in other areas across the backline. While a new centre-back should be high on the club’s agenda come January, the Magpies also need to reshape their right-back department.
Bruce has rotated the likes of Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo at right-back and right wing-back in the Premier League this season but they have not done an awful lot to justify their selection. DeAndre Yedlin has fallen out of favour after struggling for form and fitness over the past 12 months. The United States international has featured only in the cup games and his contract is set to expire next summer.
The manager has even tried out an out-and-out winger like Jacob Murphy in that role, which clearly underlines his lack of confidence in the likes of Krafth and Maquillo. Therefore, it should be a no-brainer for Newcastle to line up some upgrades on their existing right-back options.
To put things into perspective, Denzel Dumfries could be the man to answer Newcastle’s prayers. The Dutch international has been a consistent performer in the Eredivisie over the past few seasons.
Dumfries has backed up his strong performances in the Eredivisie with some quality displays in the group stages of the Champions League and Europa League. That he has also held his own for the Netherlands at the international level clearly underlines his calibre to make the step up to a more competitive league.
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Verdict
Newcastle need a more dynamic right-back capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch and Denzel Dumfries fits the bill in that regard.
The Dutchman boasts a promising track record of goals and assists at Eindhoven, which suggests he would be an upgrade on mediocre players like Krafth, Yedlin and Manquillo at St.James’ Park. With his best years still ahead of him at 24, Dumfries would surely be an excellent long-term investment.
