It has been claimed by the Irish Mirror that Newcastle United are once again plotting a move to sign Andreas Samaris.
The Benfica midfielder was previously linked with a move to St. James’ Park in the past, but with Rafael Benitez desperate to sign a few quality players in January, a move could soon be on the horizon for the Greek international.
Samaris’ current contract with Benfica expires at the end of the season, meaning the Magpies can sign up for a cut-price in January. But, is he the right choice for Rafa Benitez’s men?
Andreas Samaris: Player profile
Once regarded as a huge prospect in Greek football, Samaris is a robust midfielder, who mostly operates as an anchorman in midfield.
His immense physical attributes coupled with an excellent tackling prowess make him an ideal defensive midfielder. Indeed, he often shines in a 1v1 physical or aerial duels while his man-marking qualities are also quite impressive.
Passing, however, is arguably Samaris’ biggest asset as the 29-year-old has consistently attained over 85% of passing accuracy throughout the most part of his professional career. This indicates his quality of not only being a solid defensive midfielder but also an anchorman, who can control the midfield with some excellent passing.
However, what makes Samaris such an appealing target for Newcastle United is his vast experience of the European top flight football. Although Samaris is yet to play in any of Europe’s top leagues, he has made over 250 appearances during his time in Greece and Portugal, which will surely become useful if he makes the move to England.
Is Andreas Samaris the right fit for Newcastle?
Newcastle United have had their fair share of troubles in the midfield department this season, with coach Rafa Benitez often lacking resources. But, the Andreas Samaris will come as a breath of fresh not just for the coach but for the as well.
As mentioned earlier, Samaris has a lot of experience in European as well as international football and signing a player of his calibre may help Newcastle when the going gets tough.
He will certainly be an excellent upgrade for Isaac Hayden while his physical prowess will help him provide more solidity to the midfield when compared to Ki Sung-Yong.
And with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Samaris will be available for a cut-price in January, which will be beneficial for a club like Newcastle, whose budget restraints have eluded them from signing top class players in the past.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored