Graham Hunter has labelled Newcastle United’s summer transfer target, Yannick Carrasco, as an ‘extraordinary’ player for Atletico Madrid, as he told La Liga TV.
The Spanish football expert added that if Diego Simeone’s side wants to win a trophy this season, then ‘get Carrasco playing every week’.
Newcastle went transfer crazy during the summer, with a number of big-names landing on Eddie Howe’s doorstep.
It also included the Magpies going to La Liga and breaking their club transfer record for Real Sociedad’s highly-rated striker, Alexander Isak.
There was talk throughout that the Magpies wanted to add another out-and-out winger to their ranks, with Carrasco’s name seemingly on their transfer wish list.
In the end, Newcastle missed out on his signature, but when Carrasco scored during his side’s 4-1 win at home to Celta de Vigo over the weekend, La Liga expert Hunter waxed-lyrical about the 29-year-old’s talents.
On what lies in store for Carrasco: “That lies with his eccentric coach with his butterfly mind,” said Hunter. “I would have Carrasco in every single match when he’s fit.
“I would like to have him close to the goal, on the left-hand touchline and coming onto his right. I think he is extraordinary, especially in that team. There is an element that unites him and Correa.
“There are a lot of strategic players. There are a lot of players that use space around them tactically. But they are two of the players that attack the other team. I don’t mean willy-nilly, always attacking, they are players that can find space via movement or go past players.
“That ability to go past a man is at a very high premium the more that we analyse football. Carrasco is extraordinary. He does things through sheer character. He is invaluable. Is there a trophy for Atletico this season? Get Carrasco playing every week.”
JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW
That’s two transfer windows under this new Saudi-led ownership for Newcastle, and it’s fair to say, two successful windows.
From the signing of Kieran Trippier, who has been outstanding both on and off the field, to the stunning debut of Isak.
Come January, it’s going to be interesting to see what road the club go down and whether they splash the cash again.
Could that much-wanted winger arrive? Or perhaps a more attack-minded midfielder to compete for minutes in the middle of the park? Either way, it’s a great time to be a Newcastle fan right now.
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