Newcastle United target Raphael Holzhauser has committed his future to KA Beerschot by signing a new, long-term contract with the Jupiler League outfit, as he told Sport/Foot magazine.
It has been four years since a Magpies midfielder hit double figures in the Premier League.
And, when Holzhauser was linked with a move to St James’ Park via Jeunes Footeaux in November, Newcastle fans might have been praying that the Austria international could fill a Gini Wijnaldum-shaped void in Steve Bruce’s often-ineffective engine room.
Holzhauser is one of the most potent attacking midfielders in Europe at the moment. In 16 matches this season, the skillful schemer has contributed 20 goals (11 goals and nine assists).
Furthermore, with the 27-year-old set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign, Newcastle would have been hoping to tie up a bargain deal in January.
That was, of course, until Holzhauser made it clear that he has no plans to leave a club sitting just five points off the top of the Jupiler League table.
“It was the time to sign up, I think. I just love being here,” he said after putting pen to paper on a new deal until 2023.
“Apart from that, I don’t look that far ahead. That certainly makes no sense in football. If you ask me what I’m thinking about now, the answer is very simple: the next game.
“In the meantime I try to continue working on my game, and my body.”
Only one of the midfielders in Bruce’s squad (Jeff Hendrick) has scored a Premier League goal in 2020/21 with Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff yet to find the net.
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