THREE players Benitez may sign from relegation-bound West Brom this summer

 They may not be officially relegated yet, with them winning 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, but West Brom are practically gone – and they have a few players I can see Benitez looking to pinch this summer.
 
Taking into consideration their form in an awful West Brom team and our alleged interest last summer, here’s a few players Benitez may look at from the Baggies:

Jay Rodriguez

The 28-year-old is a quality player, he’s just struggled with injuries over his career. That being said, he’s stayed injury free this season and has been one of their standout performers in and otherwise awful season.
He has scored 11 goals (almost double that of any NUFC player) despite being in a dreadful West Brom side and is a player who’d also fit well in a Rafa Benitez team, being a hard worker and good technically.
We were linked with a move for him on several occasions last summer (prior to his £12m move to The Hawthorns) and he’s someone I can see Rafa resuming his interest in – especially when we need a couple of good strikers this summer.

Kieran Gibbs

Another player Benitez was believed to have looked at over the summer and someone I can’t see staying at West Brom ahead of their anticipated drop into the Championship.

Paul Dummett has consolidated his spot as Rafa’s first-team left-back, but the former Arsenal man could give him some much needed competition and another option down that left-hand side (something we’ve very rarely had – with the right-sided Manquillo having to fill in when Dummett was injured earlier in the season).

Nacer Chadli

A bit of a wildcard here and one I’d be surprised to see happen, but the Belgian international is a quality player who could give us that contribution of goals and assists that we’ve lacked almost all season.

He can play anywhere across the attack, so is extremely versatile, and would add some much needed competition for Ayoze Perez more than anything.

He got a bad injury earlier in the season so has been out for several months, but he’s a player who’s proven in the Premier League and someone several clubs will be looking to sign this summer.

Other contenders include Matty Phillips (we’ve got plenty wingers?), Salomon Rondon (not prolific enough given what he’d cost) and Jonny Evans (linked with top 6 clubs), but I feel these three would be very good additions for NUFC, regardless of the fact they’ve been part of a relegation campaign.

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About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

One thought on “THREE players Benitez may sign from relegation-bound West Brom this summer

  1. A good selection, Ollie. I particularly think it will be difficult to get a proven, quality LB that is available and affordable. Even more difficult to get an AM with flair and end product, that isn’t a prima-donna and will be able to ‘fit in’ with Shelvey. Probably, poaching the relegated clubs, may be the only realistic option. Any idea what these players were bought for and what they may cost once relegated? Looking forward to a similar article re Stoke and Southampton options!

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