Javier Manquillo receives shock interest from top club – & Achraf Lazaar ‘close’ to loan exit

Newcastle full-back Achraf Lazaar looks set to return to Italy with Serie B side Cosenza.

This comes from both Sky Sports Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio and the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, who report that the Moroccan is ‘close’ to joining the side on loan.

There have also been reports today that Valencia are interested in signing Javier Manquillo before their transfer window shuts on September 2nd after first-team right-back Cristiano Piccini suffered a long-term injury.

Here’s what Spanish paper AS wrote about the former Atletico Madrid man today, suggesting Manquillo is high up on their shortlist:

“Manquillo is on Valencia’s radar after news that Cristiano Piccini will be out for the next five months with a patellar fracture.

Napoli’s Elseid Hysaj remains their top target but should that move fail, a bid for Manquillo could be pursued”.

I must say I honestly don’t know how to feel about this one. I personally don’t see the sense in letting him leave.

I think Manquillo has had some overly harsh criticism from some Newcastle fans. He’s had some shockers at left back in his time with us but rarely lets us down when he’s on the right. He’s a better defender and technically more gifted player than Yedlin, (who also has doubts over his long term fitness).

He had a good end to last season, played well pre-season and didn’t do anything particularly wrong against Arsenal. He was then left out against Norwich for Krafth to make his debut and after the Swede’s horror show at Carrow Road was unlucky to not go back into the team for Spurs.

Obviously in hindsight Krafth played well enough in London and was part of a famous defensive display but personally, I’d rather see Yedlin leave over Javier Manquillo.

Aside from that, it’s fair to assume the Spaniard will be starting in Saturday’s game against Watford, with Krafth likely to miss out with a thigh injury and Yedlin not fully fit. To me, he’s a player we can’t afford to let go of just yet.

As for Lazaar, the fact he’s having to join a second division Italian side so late in the window shows how far his stock has fallen in recent years.

#nufc believed to be close to moving Achraf Lazaar to Cosenza in Serie B ??

— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) August 30, 2019

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