Newcastle must swoop to sign Jose Cifuentes

Newcastle United solely have three Premier League matches left to play earlier than the January switch window opens up for enterprise in slightly below two months.

The World Cup break after this weekend’s spherical of fixtures signifies that Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe have various weeks between November and December to piece collectively their technique for the window, with no video games to occupy their ideas in that point.

They might try to enhance the group in January to enhance their possibilities of securing a spot in Europe subsequent season, with the membership at present sitting third within the table after 14 matches.

It was lately reported by El Futbolero that the Magpies are set to battle it out with Leeds United and Brighton as they eye up a swoop to signal Los Angeles FC central midfielder Jose Cifuentes.

Ashworth may now land an improve on present first-team gem Sean Longstaff by securing a deal to deliver the Main League Soccer expertise to St. James’ Park at the beginning of 2023.

Ought to Newcastle signal Cifuentes?

South American soccer professional Tim Vickery beforehand heaped reward on the LAFC maestro, who has caught the attention for Ecuador at U20 degree, telling talkSPORT:

“He was the beating coronary heart of that aspect and I feel he’s a terrific midfielder. He’s sturdy, he’s bought high quality, he’s bought engine – he’s among the finest all-round midfielders, probably, that I’ve seen come out of South America shortly.

“Get him, signal him on! Ecuadorians are solely simply starting to forge careers in Europe. Typically the variation for them isn’t straightforward… however this fellow Cifuentes strikes the ball properly, strikes throughout the sphere, sturdy within the deal with, sturdy on the ball, I like him rather a lot.”

Vickery lauded his multitude of abilities and Cifuentes’ statistics within the MLS in 2022 again up the reward.

He has registered seven objectives and six assists, while creating 11 large possibilities for his teammates, and made 2.3 tackles and interceptions per recreation – recording a SofaScore rating of 7.04 throughout 36 outings.

Longstaff, in the meantime, has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.74 or lower for the reason that begin of the 2021/22 Premier League marketing campaign and chipped in with two objectives and three assists in 38 matches in that point, while making 1.6 tackles and interceptions per match this time period.

These statistics recommend that the LAFC star could possibly be an improve on the 25-year-old Toon academy product in the midst of the park as he has the potential to supply extra on and off the ball, by profitable possession again extra incessantly and contributing with extra within the closing third.

He’s additionally two years youthful than Longstaff and will, due to this fact, have extra room to develop and develop beneath Howe’s teaching, which may make him a superb signing for the long run in addition to the right here and now.