Newcastle United has no representation at the next World Cup, but not all’s lost for the Magpies. The team should pay very close attention to this tournament, because it is a great opportunity to scout and recruit a wide variety of talented players who could take the team to the next level.
Even though Newcastle United’s performance during the last season was average at best, the team has a lot of potential with its current formation. However, the Magpies are in dire need of a few midfielders who could bring creativity and unpredictability to their game, and not to mention an effective striker who is able to finish with precision – especially since Mitrovic is on loan at Fulham. Without further ado, here is a brief rundown of the team’s transfer opportunities in the context of the World Cup.
Croatia
Croatia always has always enjoyed sort of an underdog reputation at an international level, and the approaching World Cup 2018 is no exception to this rule, as the country still is amongst the dark horses of the competition. While Newcastle, due to monetary restrictions, stand no chance of signing players such as Luka Modric (Real Madrid, also the captain of the Croatian National Team), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), or Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), there are other more viable transfer opportunities.
Newcastle United should focus on the youngsters, especially since the World Cup represents a great opportunity for them to gain some experience. Since the team is in desperate need of talented young midfielders, players such as Tin Jedvaj (Bayern Leverkusen) and Filip Bradaric (who is currently signed to Rijeka) could solve their problem. By recruiting these particular players, Newcastle might have the chance to take the team to the next level by building upon their already existing talents, and kick-start a new, successful era in terms of achievements.
Iceland
Nobody expected a country such as Iceland to achieve so many positive results. The Icelandic National Team has rocked the football world, rising to prominence against all odds during the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Despite their surprising results and the fact that many Icelandic players have made their way to Premier League, the country has not yet attracted the full attention of the major European football clubs.
As a result, Newcastle should exploit this opportunity and start building their future team with Icelandic players. This Summer, Newcastle should pay special attention to the National Team’s front-line, as there are many talented players who play in that position.
Young players such as Jon Daoi Boovarsoon (25 years old, who currently plays at the English team Reading) and Alfreo Finnbogason (29, Ausbsburg) are two strikers who could potentially increase the team’s goal-scoring capacity. On top of all that, Iceland’s playing style is very similar in some respect to Newcastle’s, so there is definitely some potential in terms of team synergy.
Senegal
The Senegalese National Team is another great example in terms of transfer opportunities. The West African Nation has created many talented players throughout the years, but their international performance has been less than ideal in the past decade. However, this time around, they seem to have broken the curse, as Senegal is making their first appearance in the tournament since 2002.
As a result, Rafa Benitez – or the next manager, since the Spanish manager could leave for West Ham – should pay very close attention to Senegal’s strikers and midfielders, because they have demonstrated great potential in terms of creative play and field discipline. Since Senegal is expected to maintain the same doggedness with which they have (successfully) pursued their goal to qualify to the tournament, a few young, talented and disciplined Senegalese players (such as M’Baye Niang, Diafra Sakho and Moussa Sow) could be just the thing that Newcastle needs to freshen up their squad and playing style.
Conclusion
Newcastle United is a team with a rich history and a wide variety of achievements. However, their performance in the last few seasons is proof that the team is in dire need of a hard reset, especially when it comes to the midfield and the front line. The 2018 World Cup is a great opportunity in this sense, so Rafa Benitez should definitely pay attention to the three National Teams that we have covered throughout this article.
