According to reports in Australia, Newcastle are now ‘moving in’ for Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy – a player believed to be on Rafa Benitez’s ‘wanted list’ after impressing the Spaniard over the past few seasons.
These claims arrive from Mooy’s homeland, with Australian publication ‘The World Game’ claiming that both ourselves and West Ham are now keen to sign him with less than three weeks of the window left to run.
The 27-year-old midfielder has had an impressive few seasons at Huddersfield and is a real hard worker – so I can see why Benitez would be interested – however it’s a deal I have absolutely no faith in us pulling off in our current position.
After a season long loan from Man City, he joined the Terriers on a permanent deal last summer – costing them £8m (rising to £10m).
The issue for Benitez (presuming this one is even true) is that he’d probably be valued at over double that now – and I can’t see us spending over £15m on a central midfielder.
Nevertheless, here’s a snippet from The World Game’s piece on Benitez’s alleged interest:
‘West Ham and Newcastle moving in for Mooy’
‘Aaron Mooy is on the wanted listed of thrifty Newcastle United and big-spending West Ham as his Huddersfield Town future comes under scrutiny.
‘Magpies boss Rafa Benitez has been tracking the 27-year-old since he starred against them while on loan at Huddersfield when they clashed with Newcastle in the Championship two seasons back.
‘Mooy also scored against Newcastle in his debut season in the Premier League in August 2017.
‘And but for the tight financial constraints placed on the club by owner Mike Ashley it’s likely he could already be at St James’s Park.’
He bagged 4 goals and 4 assists from central midfield last season (his first season in the top flight) and contributed 4 goals and 10 assists during Huddersfield’s promotion season in 2016/17.
A good player and a hard worker who’d fit into Rafa’s team very nicely, but a player I just can’t see us signing.
Huddersfield will have no intention of selling and, even if they did, we will probably have no intention of paying their high asking price.
A load of rubbish, just another name to add to the growing list .
Magpie 48(Quote)
You are in the Land of dreams, Your Manager will be off shortly, and your team will be down the plug hole soon after, The Nookies are Brown Bread and on there way down,
Rhed Rhum.(Quote)