Tom Davies (Getty Images)
According to Daily Mail, Newcastle United have targeted Everton youngster Tom Davies to bolster their midfield ahead of the new season.
The report claims that Magpies boss Steve Bruce is a huge admirer of the Liverpool-born midfielder and is looking to offer £12m to secure his services for Everton. However, Everton value him highly and would not let him leave easily.
Born in England, Davies started his journey with Tranmere Rovers before joining Everton’s youth system in 2009. He rose through the ranks at Goodison Park and made his senior debut in the 2015/16 season. Since then, he has been a regular member of the squad and has made over 120 appearances for the Toffees despite being just 22.
He has captained his side on several occasions last season and has established himself as a key figure of the squad. The youngster was also nominated for the Golden Boy award in 2018, where he lost to Juventus’ Mathijs de Ligt.
However, he has not hit the expected heights despite making 30 league appearances this season. Davies managed to contribute with just 2 goals in 32 games across all competitions and has not been at his best. Thus, Newcastle should avoid making a move for the young midfielder.
The Magpies managed to score just 38 goals in the league, which is poor, and finished 13th in the league standings. Though the attacking unit struggled for consistency in front of goal, their midfield did a decent job.
Jonjo Shelvey ended as the club’s top-scorer with 6 goals and still has a lot more to offer at the top level. Apart from him, they have Sean Longstaff, who was not his best. But with experience, he could develop himself into a key figure for the team.
Attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron, despite struggling earlier in the campaign, ended up with 4 goals. And he is capable of operating from several positions. Newcastle should also look to tie down Matty Longstaff with a new contract at the earliest.
They also have young Dan Barslaser, who just returned from a successful loan spell with Rotherham United. He scored 2 goals and 5 assists in 27 League One games and could be a key part of the squad next season. With that in mind, they really don’t need to Davies at the moment.
The 22-year-old has immense experience but given the plethora of midfield talents that Newcastle United posses, signing Davies would be a waste of resources. Instead, Bruce should look to get the best out of his players and make changes to other key areas.
Newcastle making a move for Davies makes no sense as he would eventually end up on the bench if he is not able to produce the goods. Instead, the manager should look to strengthen the frontline, where the strikers have lacked consistency.
