The former Sunderland loanee looks set to join rivals Newcastle United.
Former Sunderland left-back Michael Gray has expressed doubts about Newcastle United’s imminent arrival, Javi Manquillo.
Manquillo spent last season on loan at Gray’s boyhood club, but looks set to join their fierce rivals Newcastle after undergoing a medical on Tuesday ahead of a permanent transfer from Atletico Madrid [Sky Sports].
Should the move go ahead, it would be the second year running that a right-back has flocked to St James’ Park immediately after a temporary spell at Sunderland came to an end – the previous one being DeAndre Yedlin.
Ex-Sunderland loanee DeAndre Yedlin
And, speaking as a guest on Talksport’s Jim White show on Tuesday morning, Gray said: “They like taking our old players, Newcastle, don’t they?
“No he didn’t, to be honest [do the business at Sunderland]. Look, I think Rafa [Benitez, the Newcastle manager] needs to strengthen his squad.
“I don’t know if that’s the route he should be going down, but only time will tell. When he gets him in there he might find something that Sunderland didn’t.”
Manquillo, who appeared on 20 occasions as Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League last term, has previously played in English football with Liverpool.
The former Spain Under-21 international later joined French giants Marseille, also on loan, but looks on his way out of Atleti for good, with his contract there expiring next summer.
Ex-Sunderland loanee Javi Manquillo
Newcastle are also said to be closing in on the signing of Norwich City winger Jacob Murphy.
Will Manquillo’s Newcastle United spell go better than his Sunderland one?
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