Lee Clark has told Tribal Football that Philippe Coutinho and Wilfried Zaha are “realistic signings” for Newcastle United in the summer transfer window.
Former Liverpool attacking midfielder Coutinho and Crystal Palace winger Zaha both have been linked with moves to Newcastle this summer.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Newcastle are interested in signing the Brazil international, who can also operate as a winger and is currently on loan at Bayern Munich.
The Sun has claimed of interest in former Manchester United winger Zaha from the Magpies.
Former Newcastle midfielder Clark believes that both Coutinho and Zaha are “realistic signings” once the proposed takeover from Saudi Arabia’s PIF goes through.
Clark told Tribal Football: “Philippe Coutinho and Wilfried Zaha are realistic signings for me. I know the Kylian Mbappes and that have been mentioned and you don’t know whether that has just been humour.
“I think those type of players are out of Newcastle United’s reach at this moment in time. Now further down the line, if the club gets moving into Champions League places and it is challenging domestically, then they could eventually be realistic targets.
“In this moment in time, the Mbappes of this world are not. But certainly players like Zaha and Coutinho, who needs to get his career back on track to where he was when he was back in the Premier League with Liverpool, certainly those players would be of interest and could have a strong interest in Newcastle United and joining at the start of what could be a huge project.”
Realistic signings?
Coutinho is one of the best players in the world, and while he may need to find a new club to get back to his best, with no Champions League football next season and no prospect of challenging for major trophies, the Brazilian may not find it too tempting to move to Newcastle.
However, Zaha could find the Magpies’ project very interesting and appealing, and might want to be part of a club that could be going places.
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