Newcastle United would be a sensible destination for FC Krasdonar forward Eduard Spertsyan if he wants to join a Premier League club this summer.
That is the view of Roman Pavyluchenko; the former Tottenham Hotspur and Russia striker impressed by the performances of a highly-gifted attacking midfielder rapidly growing the relatively small pond that is the RPL.
Eduard Spertsyan scored 14 goals and set up 14 more for Krasnodar last season, MetaRatings reporting that both Newcastle United and Manchester City sent scouts to watch him in the flesh as Armenia stunned Wales in last week’s Euro 2024 qualifier.
Silky, skilful and a fearsome striker of the ball from distance; Newcastle could potentially step up their interest in 23-year-old Spertsyan with James Maddison – one of the club’s leading targets over the last 12 months – closing in on a £40 million move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Newcastle United like Eduard Spertsyan
And Pavyluchenko believes Newcastle makes more sense as a destination than a City side now setting their sights on another dynamic number ten in the Spertsyan mould, Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga (Fabrizio Romano).
“Yes, he had a good last season but we (Russian clubs) don’t play in European competition. And who watches our league? If this interest is real, such offers cannot be refused,” Pavlyuchenko tells MetaRatings.
“I would advise Edward to go to Newcastle.
“There is no chance (of playing regularly) at City, and there will most likely be an instant loan. Someone will say ‘how can you refuse City’? But you can choose a great club and not play a single match.
“(At Newcastle) he will play, it seems to me. I would do that. And, from there, you can get to a top team like Manchester City.”
Spertsyan claimed Armenia’s Player of the Year award for 2022; claiming the gong ahead of former Arsenal, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund ace Hendrikh Mkhitaryan.
And Mkhitar Davidyan, a CSKA coach who knows Spertsyan well from Russian football, believes that – if Manchester City is to be his destination – a player of his supreme technical ability should fit in well at the Etihad.
Eduard is a very creative and smart football player,” Davidyan argues. “In my opinion, Spertsyan would not be lost with Guardiola at Manchester City.
“Because Pep promotes the kind of football that is close to Eduard in terms of his style of play and intellect.”
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