Emil Krafth is unsure about leaving Newcastle United for Fulham after the Championship side made a last-ditch approach for a Deadline Day deal, per the Daily Mail (31/8, 15:40).
Marco Silva is keen to further strengthen the defence he adopted from Scott Parker this summer with the Sweden right-back. Yet the Cottagers actually boast the joint-best record in the second-tier after only allowing three goals in five games.
Only Birmingham have also conceded three times so far this season, but sit eighth while Fulham top the Championship table. The west London outfit, along with fellow recently-relegated side West Brom, are also the only second-tier sides to win four of their matches.
But Krafth is hesitant to accept Silva’s late-window approach to join Fulham from Newcastle. The 27-year-old is wary of dropping down a division and is considering fighting for his future at St James’ Park under Steve Bruce, instead.
Bruce has only fielded the 32-cap full-back once in the Premier League this season, coming on the opening day. Krafth played 85 minutes of the Toon’s 4-2 loss at home to West Ham in an unnatural centre-half role.
Krafth also made five of his 16 top-flight outings in the heart of the Magpies’ backline last term, rather than the £5m signing from 2019’s favoured right-back. Bruce has also elected to utilise Jacob Murphy at wing-back in each of United’s three league fixtures this season.
Newcastle have been open to parting with Krafth long before Fulham began showing an interest in a potential late transfer. The Sun reported back in July that the Toon would likely look to move him on again, after rejecting chances to leave Tyneside in January.
Should Newcastle force Krafth to accept late Fulham transfer?
Newcastle will likely want to offload Krafth in the final hours of the summer market, amid late-window interest from Fulham. Bruce is unlikely to field the Sweden full-back anywhere near as often as needed to justify his £58,000-per-week salary.
Bruce would also be glad to free a large chunk of the Magpies’ wage bill to make some last-ditch deals. Newcastle remain in talks with Leicester over a temporary move for midfielder Hamza Choudhury, per Sky Sports. But the Englishman’s wage has proven to be a hurdle.
Offloading Krafth to Fulham could help Newcastle and Bruce sign Choudhury, then. Taking away one piece of the puzzle Bruce seemingly does not want, for one he does. But also removing a piece of the puzzle that Bruce praised earlier this year.
“The beauty of [Krafth] is the versatility,” Bruce said, via The Shields Gazette, after fielding him at centre-back against Leicester. “What he does give that position is pace, which is important when you’re outside of a centre-back. I’m pleased with the versatility. He’s a great pro. He’ll never, ever let you down, so I’m pleased for him that he’s got his first goal.”
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