According to The Sun, Newcastle United are interested in the services of Nicolas Tagliafico. The Ajax defender is believed to be planning to take the next step in his career having represented his country in the recently 2018 FIFA World Cup.
It is understood that Newcastle are one of many clubs alerted to the possibility of signing Tagliafico, who could be available for a fee of £8 million this summer. However, they could face stiff competition from Fulham, who are keen on bolstering their defence before the transfer window shuts down on August 9.
Tagliafico –Why he’d be a good signing
Tagliafico, 25, initially moved to Ajax earlier this year in a £3.60 million deal from Independiente. And since his arrival at Amsterdam, the Argentine has established himself as a regular fixture in Ajax’s starting eleven.
In fact, his impressive performances with the Dutch giants earned him a place in Argentina’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The World Cup 2018 campaign didn’t exactly go out as planned as the Albiceleste were knocked out in the Round of 16 match against the eventual champions France. But, that hasn’t deterred Newcastle from showing interest in the services of the Tagliafico as they aim to strengthen their defence this summer.
The Magpies have already re-signed Kenedy on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea but still lack reinforcements in the wide department, especially when it comes to the defensive front. In fact, Paul Dummett remains their only reliable option in the left-back position although Achraf Lazaar has returned from his loan spell at Benevento Calcio.
For that reason, the Tyneside outfit are in dire need of a quality left-back this summer and many believe Nicolas Tagliafico can be an ideal candidate.
As mentioned earlier, the 25-year-old has gained a significant reputation following an impressive season in the Eredivisie and could definitely provide to be a smart signing as far Newcastle are concerned.
A handy presence in the wider position, Tagliafico is a technically astute fullback, who can provide an extra dimension to the Newcastle attack. His ability to bomb forward at any given opportunity coupled with his impressive tenacity makes him tailor-made for Rafa Benitez’s tactical philosophy.
With the likes of Kenedy and Matt Ritchie playing out wide, Tagliafico can be a smart addition to the Magpies considering their tendency of catching the opposition on the break.
Additionally, the Argentine international won’t cost them a fortune either as a price-tag of only £8 million is basically a snip in today’s market, especially for the Premier League clubs.
