Norwich boss Daniel Farke says Newcastle United have two “top class players” in Valentino Lazaro and Nabil Bentaleb.
Having been a coach role at Borussia Dortmund, Farke is no stranger to German football, and the pair made a name for themselves in the Bundesliga – with Bentaleb being a bit hit to being with at Schalke and Lazaro’s superb two seasons at Hertha Berlin being the reason he earned a £20m move to Inter Milan.
Here’s what he’s had to say about both following Saturday’s stalemate at St James’ Park:
“I know [Valentino] Lazaro and [Nabil] Bentaleb from Germany.
“They are top class players and it’s difficult for us as the only self-funded club at this level who has hardly spent £1m during the whole season to then be competitive.”
High praise from the Norwich boss, although the last line makes it all the more infuriating that we sat back, didn’t have a go and seemed happy to take a point against the league’s bottom side.
Back to Bentaleb and Lazaro, the former doesn’t look fully fit just yet – which is understandable given it’s just his second senior start since April 2019 – but he showed confidence on the ball and an eye for a pass.
Lazaro looked a class act in his 40-minute cameo. He didn’t set the world alight, but he looked like a quick thinker, assured technically and wasn’t afraid to do things quickly, play incisive passes down the line or run at his man.
With us having an option to sign both for a combined £28.5m at the end of the season, hopefully both can show their worth in the coming months and complete permanent moves this summer.
