Newcastle United are reportedly in the race to sign Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, who is a target for Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United.
According to a report from Fichajes, Newcastle United have become the latest entrants in the race to sign Villarreal’s Dutch attacker Arnaut Danjuma in the ongoing transfer window.
Danjuma spent the early parts of his career in his homeland, coming through the youth ranks at PSV Eindhoven before enjoying a stint at NEC Nijmegen, following which he had a spell with Belgian giants Club Brugge. The 24-year-old made his way to England in 2019, when he signed for Bournemouth.
After two promising seasons with the Cherries, during which he produced a tally of 17 goals and eight assists from 52 matches, Danjuma moved to Villarreal last summer. He has flourished since joining the La Liga giants, contributing nine goals and three assists in just 18 matches in all competitions while also breaking into the Dutch national team.
Danjuma’s sudden explosion with the Yellow Submarine has put him on the radar of top clubs across England and Europe, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United among the clubs interested in the Netherlands international.
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Danjuma for a while now, which is understandable as Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his attacking options. In the short term, the Reds need to cover for the absence of key forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In the long run, they will need to start laying down a succession plan for the pair, who are nearing their thirties and will enter the final year of their contracts in the summer. Danjuma, to that end, has been identified as a viable option, with the Merseysiders ready to go after him in the ongoing campaign.
However, they will face competition from arch-rivals Manchester United, whose interest in the Dutchman comes as a bit of a surprise. The Red Devils already have a plethora of attacking talent on the books at Old Trafford, with Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga all capable of playing out wide.
Among them, Martial is set to depart this month, while Diallo could also be sent out on loan. At the same time, Lingard will also see his contract run out at the end of the season. Even then, there seem to be enough options for the wider areas at Old Trafford.
Now, Newcastle United have also emerged as a suitor for the 24-year-old Dutch winger. The Magpies are staring at the prospect of relegation and are ready to splash the cash on reinforcements that can help them push for safety. Kieran Trippier has already arrived from Atletico Madrid, but much work remains to be done in the market.
Given their over-reliance on Allan Saint-Maximin to provide the creative spark in the final third, adding a player like Danjuma, who can score and create goals, would be a wise move. A player that Howe has previously worked with at Bournemouth, it remains to be seen if he moves to St. James’ Park.
