If new reports emerging from Colombia are to be believed, Newcastle United are in a three-way battle to sign Atlético Madrid outcast Santiago Arias.
Radio station Caracol and news outlet Bolavip both claim that we are ‘fighting’ Everton and Wolves for the right-back’s signature, reporting that the La Liga giants are willing to cash in if someone matches their €16m price tag (£14.5m).
The former PSV star has slipped down the pecking order in Spain following his £10m move to Atlético two years ago, with Kieran Trippier and Šime Vrsaljko now ahead of him in Simeone’s thinking.
He played just 14 times in La Liga last season and it seems all the talk in Colombia is that he’ll join a Premier League club this summer.
It’s said that a striker and centre-back are Bruce’s main priorities, but I can see us making moves late in the window for another right-back IF we manage to find a buyer for DeAndre Yedlin, with the jury out on Emil Krafth’s ability to step in should former Atletico man Javier Manquillo pick up a knock.
Elsewhere, it’s easy to see why Wolves are linked after selling Matt Doherty was sold to Spurs, while Everton could look to add the 28-year-old to their growing list of Colombian stars, with Seamus Coleman seemingly past his best at right-back.
I’m not sure we’ll be getting much more in than loans between now and October 5th, but Arias could be a brilliant Yedlin replacement should we sell the American.
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