Newcastle United are reportedly lining up a winter swoop for Atalanta wing-back Robin Gosens to solve their left-back dilemma.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Newcastle United are seriously interested in signing Robin Gosens from Atalanta as they look to bolster Eddie Howe’s left-sided options this month. The Magpies have already agreed personal terms with the German international, who starred in last summer’s UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.
Newcastle have been very proactive in the transfer window this month and have already completed the capture of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood. However, with plenty of areas in the squad in desperate need of improvement, many more bodies are expected to come through the door by the end of the month as the Magpies look to stave off the threat of relegation in the latter half of the campaign.
Newcastle have already bolstered their right-back options this winter, with Trippier joining from Atletico Madrid, but it seems Eddie Howe wants a quality option on the left flank as well. The Magpies were strongly linked with Lucas Digne but the French international ended up going to Aston Villa, rebuffing an approach from the Toon.
Newcastle United are keeping a close eye on Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta for January reinforcements and have already tested the water for Hans Hateboer. Their star wing-back Robin Gosens has emerged as one of the top targets for Newcastle for the left-sided position.
As per Sky Italia, Newcastle have already tabled a three-and-a-half-year contract worth up to €3.5 million a year to the German international, almost triple of what he is currently making in Bergamo. The report also adds that the player is keen on a move to Tyneside this month.
As things stand, the Magpies are awaiting an injury assessment on the 27-year-old, who is yet to return since suffering a hamstring injury in Atalanta’s Champions League win over BSC Young Boys last September, before lodging an official bid to the Serie A club.
Gosens joined Atalanta in a cut-price deal from Heracles in the summer of 2017 and has developed into a key player for La Dea over the years. Renowned for his goal contributions from the left flank, he has bagged an impressive 24 goals and 17 assists from 95 appearances in all competitions since the start of the 2019/20 campaign and has hit the 18-goal contribution mark in each of his last two campaigns, underlining his incredible attacking output.
Gosens will be a huge upgrade over Newcastle’s current options in Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis on the left-hand side of Howe’s defensive unit. He has been a vital attacking component in Gasperini’s 3-4-3 system and could bring dynamism and progressiveness to Newcastle’s left flank.
The German international is more of a traditional wing-back who loves to get forward and cause the opposition problems with overlapping and underlapping runs. He also has the ability to drive in quality crosses into the box, which fits very well with Howe’s style of play, especially after signing a big target-man centre-forward in Chris Wood.
Gosens is contracted to Atalanta until June 2023. The Serie A giants are apparently hesitant to let their prized asset leave in the January transfer window, but a tempting bid from the cash-rich Newcastle could change their stance.
