Junior Firpo’s La Liga form for Real Betis has reportedly attracted Premier League trio Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Manchester City.
A new centre forward appears to be what Newcastle United and Crystal Palace need most from the January transfer window but a left-back wouldn’t go amiss either.
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has been forced to try out Matt Ritchie in an unfamiliar wing-back role with Paul Dummett out injured while there is a lack of competition for Patrick Van Aanholt at Palace, particularly with Pape Souare out of favour.
And, according to ABC Sevilla, the Premier League duo have both turned to a highly-rated Spain U21 international with the winter window set to open next month.
It is claimed that Newcastle and Crystal Palace have sent scouts to watch Real Betis’ Junior Firpo in action of late and they will surely have been impressed. Junior has scored three goals in his last four La Liga matches, including the winner against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
But with ABC Sevilla pointing out that Junior has a £44 million release clause in his contract, Benitez and Roy Hodgson will surely need Betis to accept a cut-price deal if they are to stand any chance of bringing Junior to England.
The Sun stated back in November that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is also a big fan of the Santo Domingo-born talent, which sums up just how exciting he is.
And City, who have lost Benjamin Mendy to another long-term injury, certainly have the funds to blow their Premier League counterparts out of the water.
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