Newcastle could ditch Burn for Borna Sosa

One of many key figures within the rise of Newcastle United in 2022 has been that of January arrival, Dan Burn, with the towering Englishman – and boyhood Magpies fan – having confirmed an actual asset to Eddie Howe’s facet of late.

The previous Brighton and Hove Albion man could not have been a glamorous addition on the time of his seize, though the 6 foot 6 menace has swiftly endeared himself to the St James’ Park devoted, having additionally been tipped for a possible inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup.

The versatile ace has usually lined up as one thing of a makeshift left-back thus far this time period, serving to to type a part of what’s the meanest defence within the Premier League, with the northeast facet having conceded simply 11 objectives thus far this time period.

For all of the £10.4m-rated man’s defensive high quality – notably averaging 3.2 clearances and 1.2 tackles per recreation from his 14 top-flight outings this season – it stays to be seen if he’s a long-term match on the left of the defence, having provided little in an attacking sense of late.

The £35k-per-week colossus has failed to supply a single purpose or help within the league thus far this time period, with that lack of creativity additionally emphasised by the truth that he has averaged simply 0.3 key passes per recreation.

That truth might nicely make sure that Howe and co are pressured to look elsewhere for a extra everlasting, high quality match at full-back transferring ahead, with a brand new recruit having seemingly been a goal in that position over the summer season, regardless of securing the permanent addition of former loanee Matt Targett.

One such determine who was believed to be attracting the eye of these at Newcastle within the current window was Stuttgart star, Borna Sosa, with reports in his native Croatia suggesting that the eight-cap gem was of curiosity to the Tynesiders and in addition West Ham United.

Whereas no such transfer got here to fruition, the Magpies might now have been given the inexperienced mild to make one other method within the New 12 months, with Sky Sports activities Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg revealing earlier this week that the 24-year-old “is about to go away” his present facet, with the Bundesliga outfit needing to promote within the winter window.

The thrilling expertise is prone to fetch round €25m (£22m) – relying on his potential shows in Qatar for his nation – with that possible set to show one thing of a snip for a participant who has showcased his attacking high quality in current occasions.

A participant who’s “full of assists” – in response to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs – Sosa has already racked up a exceptional haul of eight assists in simply 13 video games in all competitions to date this season, unsurprisingly rating within the top 1% for that metric in Europe.

This present marketing campaign has been the norm slightly than an anomaly, nevertheless, with the £10.7k-per-week machine having additionally supplied nine assists throughout all fronts final time period, in addition to an additional haul of ten the yr prior.

That gorgeous type has ensured that the Zagreb-born ace now boasts 31 assists in simply 96 video games for the German facet, whereas 30-year-old Burn has simply six assists to his identify all through his entire taking part in profession, together with only a solitary purpose involvement for the Magpies.

Whereas it could be one thing of a harsh resolution to ditch the latter man from the facet in January, the plain high quality of Sosa within the last third ought to make sure that touchdown the playmaking defender is one thing of a no brainer.