Newcastle United Opinion: Why the Magpies should go for Joe Bryan?

According to a report from the Northern Echo, Newcastle United are closely monitoring Fulham left-back Joe Bryan. In fact, the Magpies were interested in signing Joe Bryan last summer, but the Cottagers won the race for his signature.

The 25-year-old was one of the rare bright sparks in an otherwise disastrous campaign for Fulham in the Premier League. Bryan was part of a Fulham defence that leaked 81 goals in the top-flight, though—the most by any team in the 2018/19 season.

Despite that, Newcastle must take advantage of the Cottagers’ relegation and snap up Joe Bryan this summer.

Rafael Benitez’s current contract is due to expire on June 30, which means the Newcastle board has just over three weeks to extend his contract. There is hope that the Spanish tactician will agree to remain on the Tyneside beyond the summer.

The 59-year-old has a number of tasks to do this summer. A number of players already have uncertain futures, and sorting them as well as signing new players before August 8 will prove a huge task for a club as passive as the Magpies. Hence, keeping hold of Benitez is the priority because if he stays, there can at least be some continuity and progress next season.

Fresh faces will also play a huge role if Newcastle are planning to break into the top half of the table next term. While bolstering the options in attack has to be Benitez’s priority, a new left-back also has to be on the Newcastle manager’s agenda.

The Magpies signed Antonio Barreca on loan from AS Monaco in January but it happened to be one of the disastrous signings in the club’s history. Failure to make an impact in the second half of the campaign meant the Tyneside-based club didn’t make Barreca’s loan move permanent. Benitez is now left with Paul Dummett as the only left-back option, and he must address the problem by bringing in Joe Bryan.

Bryan, due to injury problems, had a slow start to the recently concluded Premier League campaign. Once he had regained his fitness, however, he established himself in the starting XI and performed decently. The former Bristol City favourite did struggle to cope up with the demands of the top-flight initially but once he adapted, there was no looking back.

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An attacking left-back, Bryan operates with a lot of pace and energy down the left flank. He is also a good crosser of the ball and has a sweet left-foot with which he is capable of delivering screamers. Also, the 25-year-old is a decent defender and if Newcastle succeeds in signing him, he could improve a lot under the astute guidance of Benitez.

Verdict

Thus, the Magpies would take a step in the right direction by completing a move for Bryan from Fulham.