Should Newcastle United go back for Gini Wijnaldum?
Gini Wijnaldum only had one season at Newcastle United, but it was a very good one on an individual level.
The Dutch midfielder, who remains as Mike Ashley’s most expensive signing after joining for around £14.5 million in 2015 [The Chronicle], was relegated with Newcastle, but bagged 11 goals from midfield to secure himself a £23 million switch to Liverpool.
According to Fotomac, the former PSV Eindhoven star could be on the move as Fenerbahce weigh up a switch, but should the Magpies try and re-sign him if he’s available?
Sky Sports reported on Thursday that Mikel Merino is closing in on a move to Real Sociedad and Rafael Benitez is going to need a replacement for the Spanish midfielder.
Fans of the St James’s Park club might not be happy about re-signing a player who jumped ship, but 11 Premiership goals in one season is a superb return and the Magpies faithful would forgive and forget if the Champions League finalist picked up where he left off after the 2015-16 campaign.
To put his goal return into context, he scored more in that season than Joselu and Dwight Gayle managed in total last term.
For obvious reasons, signing a top-drawer striker is a must for Benitez this summer, but if Wijnaldum made sense financially then a goalscoring midfielder of that ilk wouldn’t go amiss.
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