Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle United, is reportedly keeping an eye on Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs in his CaughtOffside daily briefing, the Mexico international is a player who the Magpies have “loosely on their radar,” despite the fact that Premier League rivals Arsenal are also said to be interested in signing the 25-year-old.
This comes after The Athletic reported last month that the 61-cap ace was one of Howe’s possible January midfield targets, with the Tynesiders reportedly looking for a new ‘number six’.
It appears that the former Club America star, who has just over two years left on his current contract in Amsterdam, has been a long-term target for the St James’ Park club, with the club reportedly inquiring about his availability over the summer.
Enzo Fernandez of Newcastle
It is difficult to deny that the northeast side will require another addition in the center of the park in the near future, with the recent departure of Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest leaving the club short on options.
Alvarez’s signing would do more than fill a void, with the “tenacious” gem – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – demonstrating his quality in the Eredivisie recently, averaging an impressive 2.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game in 18 league appearances this season.
That distinctive form, which has also seen the 6 foot 2 brutes create four big chances so far, has ensured that the highly-coveted midfielder has an official contract.
According to Sofascore, he has an average match rating of 7.24 this season, which is only surpassed by Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar in Howe’s current squad.
A player with Champions League and international experience, the “ball-playing” menace, as Kulig describes him, would also be an appealing prospect due to his versatility, as he can comfortably slot in at center-back if needed.
It’s also worth noting for those on Tyneside that the towering asset is said to have a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Chelsea’s new £107 million man, Enzo Fernandez, according to FBref, indicating the potential diamond Newcastle could have on their hands.
That similarity is evidenced by the fact that the Stamford Bridge starlet ranks in the top 19% of his peers in the ‘Men’s next eight competitions’ for tackles made, whereas Alvarez ranks in the top 16% for ball-winning prowess.
The duo is also capable of having an attacking impact from their deep-lying roles, with the Ajax man ranking in the top 14% for progressive passes made, while the Chelsea man ranks in the bottom 14%. Argentina international is ranked in the top 1% of the world for that same metric.
The latter is currently causing quite a stir as a result of his high-profile move to west London, having only recently established himself on the global stage after winning the Best Young Player award at the World Cup in Qatar.
Having their own version of the former Benfica man in the form of Alvarez could be a real coup for Howe and co, though the hope is that they won’t have to splash the cash as much as the free-spending Blues.
Leave a Reply