Newcastle United signing Crystal Palace’s Pape Souare just sums up their problems

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Newcastle United are said to be closing on a deal to sign Crystal Palace’s Pape Souare.

According to The Sun (page 52 of Monday’s printed edition), Newcastle United are set to make Crystal Palace’s Pape Souare their first signing of the January transfer window, but that just shows the scale of the task Rafael Benitez has to keep the Magpies in the Premier League.

Palace are one of Newcastle’s rivals in the relegation battle, yet they are willing to loan out Souare to Benitez’s side.

That is a rather damning reflection of how highly Roy Hodgson rates the left-back.

If Souare had been a key player for Palace there would surely have been no chance of Newcastle signing him.

Even Benitez has admitted in the past that he would be surprised if Newcastle’s relegation rivals would do them a favour in the coming weeks.

Yet Palace appear to have been happy to strengthen Newcastle at left-back, and allow Souare to leave.

Souare may actually step straight into Newcastle’s team, as neither Paul Dummett and Javier Manquillo have looked parituclalry convincing at Premier League level.

However, the addition of Souare is a very underwhelming way for Newcastle to start business in January, and Benitez is likely to need some higher quality additions, if he is to keep his side in the top flight.