Newcastle United were right to sign Jacob Murphy, rather than pursue a deal for Jesus Navas.
Recent reports from The Mirror claimed that Newcastle United are keen on free agent winger Jesus Navas – but the recent signing of Jacob Murphy is a much better deal for the Magpies.
Manager Rafael Benitez has been attempting to bring in new signings this summer, and whilst he has been frustrated with some targets, he has managed to bring in Florian Lejeune, Javier Manquillo and the aforementioned Murphy.
Murphy isn’t the only winger to sign on the dotted line, as Chrstian Atsu has made his loan from Chelsea permanent, and Newcastle may still chase one more winger having seen Yoan Gouffran leave earlier this summer.
The Mirror recently claimed that Newcastle are interested in snapping up free agent winger Jesus Navas, who is without a club since his Manchester City expired earlier this summer, with the Magpies ‘in pole position’.
The links were particularly interesting given that Spanish newspaper AS reported in 2010 that Benitez wanted to bring Navas to Liverpool, just weeks before the now-Newcastle boss left Anfield.
Benitez may well have been tracking Navas over the last seven years too, and whilst he is now available for free, the Newcastle boss made the right decision in moving for Murphy over Navas.
Navas is now 30 and has been known for his inconsistent end product, notching just two goals in all competitions over the last three seasons – a record that simply isn’t good enough for a Premier League wide man.
Navas has also lost a little of the pace that made him so dangerous at Sevilla, and he simply isn’t the same player that Benitez targeted seven years ago, with time taking its toll on the winger to the point where Pep Guardiola even used him as a full back last season.
Jesus Navas
Instead of attempting to resurrect Navas’ career, Newcastle are looking to the future with the signing of Murphy, an exciting young winger with huge potential and great end product last season, notching nine goals and six assists.
He may have cost around £12million (Sky Sports), but if Newcastle are to return to their former glories, it’s signings like Murphy – with a view for the long-term success of the club – that will get them there, rather than resorting to over-the-hill free agents on hefty wages like Navas.
Would you have liked to see Newcastle sign Navas?
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