Newcastle United are one of the most dangerous teams in England from set-pieces.
Kieran Trippier is genuinely one of the best dead-ball specialists in world football. Every direct free-kick he has challenges even the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, but he may soon have some serious competition.
Indeed, according to The Times, Newcastle are plotting a January move for James Maddison – a player who can go toe-to-toe with Trippier in terms of free-kick prowess.
Maddison can bag from any dead-ball scenario – and Callum Wilson has recently even stated that the midfielder trains free-kicks far more often than Trippier does.
However, if that wasn’t enough, Newcastle are also now being linked with a move for Inter Milan’s Hakan Cahlanoglu – another free-kick specialist, and if these two sign, Newcastle will have probably the best set-piece lineup in Premier League history.
Maddison, Trippier and Calhanoglu are three of the very best free-kick takers in the world, and if they’re all stood over a dead-ball, every Premier League goalkeeper will be quaking in their boots.
Of course, it’s to a lesser level, but if Newcastle were to complete these two signings, they would have a free-kick lineup that would rival the famous AC Milan trio of David Beckham, Andrea Pirlo and Ronaldinho – a triad that sparked one of the greatest images in football history.
Yes, Calhanoglu,Trippier and Maddison aren’t as big names as the former Milan players, but when it comes to free-kick ability, they can give absolutely anyone a run for their money.
Eddie Howe will certainly have a selection headache when it comes to choosing his set-piece takers if Newcastle finalise these signings.
The Magpies may well have three of the best set-piece takers on the planet, and who knows? Perhaps they’ll go out and get James Ward-Prowse to complete the perfect quartet.
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