Newcastle United Close To Landing This Fleet Footed Arsenal Forward: Just What Rafa Needed?

Newcastle United have been busy this summer as Rafa Benitez, their manager is looking to repeat his side’s performance from the Championship winning campaign last time around. The squad at the club is decent but lacks quality top flight stars and Rafa wants to make sure that he has enough options at his disposal for the challenges that lie ahead.

Even with just hours before the start of the new season, the Spaniard is looking to sign some players for his first team and the latest name extensively linked with the club is Arsenal star, Lucas Perez.

Rafa wants Perez

Having failed to establish himself in the first team at the Emirates since his move to the club last summer, Lucas Perez is now further down the pecking order at Arsenal and has been linked with an exit since the end of the previous season. And Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has now revealed that he has held talks with the London outfit over a move for the striker this summer.

Rafa revealed that he spoke to Arsene Wenger about the player and that he is confident of landing him before the deadline day so is Lucas Perez a decent fit for the squad at the St James’?

Perez and his style of play

Known for his technical ability with the ball at his feet, Perez is a creative striker who loves to drop back and help with the build up play. He is also adept at playing on the shoulder of the last man and creating space for his side while his finishing abilities, even from long range, make him a dangerous player. He is strong and can hold on to the ball in dangerous areas, which is an attractive trait and though he failed in his first season in England, he has what it takes to thrive in these conditions.

How will he fit in at Newcastle?

Rafa is expected to stick with his 4-4-2 formation that helped him lift the Championship trophy last season. He used Dwight Gayle as the furthest of forwards while Ayoze Perez, Mohamed Diame and Aleksandar Mitrovic, all taking turns to partner him in the first team. It was a productive system for the Magpies and Perez will slot right into it this season.

Gayle is expected to keep his place, leading the attack for the side but Rafa will be tempted to use the Arsenal man as his support striker, adding loads of dynamism and creativity to his front line.

The 28-year old is in his prime as a footballer and has experienced the difficulties in the English league first-hand last season. He will be a stronger and more ready this season and could turn out to be a match-winning coup for the Magpies this summer.