Newcastle United’s hunt for experience in midfield has produced another intriguing option as the Magpies attempt to rebuild a unit stripped of two established starters this summer.
Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have both left St. James’ Park, while Newcastle’s midfield additions have primarily consisted of young players with limited Premier League experience.
New manager Matthias Jaissle, meanwhile, has publicly acknowledged that further adjustments are needed before the transfer window closes.
Now, Newcastle might be exploring the possibility of adding former Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka without paying a transfer fee. According to TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey, the Magpies and Aston Villa have both held talks regarding Goretzka, who is a free agent after leaving Bayern earlier this summer.
“Aston Villa and Newcastle have both held talks over a deal to sign Leon Goretzka this summer, though intermediaries continue to offer the Germany international to other notable Premier League sides, with TEAMtalk confirming Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have also been contacted,” Bailey reported. “TEAMtalk understands conversations have already taken place with both Villa and Newcastle, with the two clubs exploring the midfielder’s situation.”
The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones separately reported that Aston Villa has in fact opened talks with the 31-year-old.
“Aston Villa have opened talks with free agent Germany international Leon Goretzka,” Jones reported. “The former Bayern Munich midfielder is viewed as a high-quality and experienced alternative to Joao Palhinha, who is joining Benfica.”
The Aston Villa talks could leave Newcastle needing to move quickly if the Magpies’ interest develops into a full-blown attempt to sign Goretzka.
All that said, there is also substantial competition beyond Villa. Bailey reported that intermediaries have contacted Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool regarding Goretzka, while Brighton, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest have also been made aware of his availability. Manchester United was contacted by Goretzka’s agents, but the Red Devils are seemingly out after agreeing to sign fellow Newcastle target Carlos Baleba.
Goretzka would represent a dramatic departure from Newcastle’s youth-heavy recruitment this summer, similarly to the ones that could have happened had Palhinha or Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg arrived in Tyneside. The German international left Bayern after making 312 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, producing 51 goals and 53 assists, while also earning 73 caps for Germany’s senior team.
More importantly for Newcastle, Goretzka would provide the team with the experience both on and off the pitch without requiring the club to spend a transfer fee or having to enter bidding wars to convince another club to sanction a sale, although the player’s salary and potential signing bonus would obviously factor into any agreement.
Would you take Goretzka on a free transfer over spending heavily on another midfielder, or would his age make you look elsewhere? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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