Newcastle reportedly eyeing Chelsea stars, should Lewis Baker be one of those?

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Newcastle are reportedly keen on landing a handful of Chelsea stars this summer.

Newcastle United are reportedly looking to land a “few” of Chelsea’s out-of-favour stars this summer, so should they reignite last summer’s interest in England youth international Lewis Baker?

The Evening Chronicle claimed Rafa Benitez is looking to raid his old side for a handful of stars, despite already being linked with Tammy Abraham, Kenedy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

But Newcastle were keen on 23-year-old Baker last summer after excelling in Dutch football, only for the Chelsea product to move to neighbours Middlesbrough on loan instead.

The Sun claimed last summer that Newcastle were rivalling Bournemouth and Swansea City for Baker on a season-long loan, but it appears that they decided not to move for Baker despite his 2016-17 form.

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Baker scored 15 goals during a loan spell with Vitesse Arnhem, as well as turning provider on seven occasions. It saw Boro take a chance on the youngster, but he endure a difficult 2017-18 campaign.

He managed just 12 Championship appearances, with a change in managers and style of play not suiting the young star. In a side like Benitez’s Newcastle, though, surely he would thrive.

Tony Pulis’ defensive-minded Boro starved the creative Baker from deploying his talent in between the lines, with Pulis instead opting to field an extra defensive midfielder.

But with Benitez using a 4-2-3-1 system, Baker would be excellent competition for Ayoze Peres in the number 10 role as well as offering competition in holding midfield – with Mikel Merino reportedly set to leave.

A must-buy this summer, with Benitez looking to raid his old side.