Newcastle United made an impressive return to the Premier League with a 10th placed finish last term, managing 44 points. Rafa Benitez’s men finished the campaign strongly by beating Chelsea 3-0 at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies certainly overachieved last season by finishing in the top half of the table. Benitez will now be gearing up for the next season, where he could take Newcastle to new heights.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles’s future seems to be uncertain as reports link him with a move to Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. If the centre-back does decide to leave, then Benitez will surely jump into the transfer market to fish for a replacement.
At the moment, that man seems to be 33-year-old Fenerbahce defender Martin Skrtel. Benitez signed the Slovakian international during his time at Liverpool, and now he could look to reunite with the combative powerhouse at Newcastle.
Skrtel was once one of the Premier League’s fiercest centre-backs. He represented Liverpool for eight years, making 242 appearances and scoring 16 goals in that time.
He was a relatively unknown player when he joined the Anfield outfit from Zenit Saint Petersburg. But he soon turned into a nightmare for the rival strikers in the league. With his agility and strength, Skrtel was a bully on the field, hurrying and harrying players off the ball.
But that was a young Skrtel, and he is not the same player today. Aged 33, the defender certainly doesn’t have a lot left to offer. Lascelles is only 24 years old and it would not make any sense to replace him with Skrtel, who can probably offer a year or two more at the highest level.
Benitez probably has a special place for Skrtel in his heart. The pair worked together for a long time at Anfield before the Spanish manager eventually departed Liverpool. But unless he plans on using the Slovakian as back-up to his main centre-backs, it would be a bad idea to sign the Fenerbahce man.
Newcastle could spend the money, they would receive if they part ways with Lascelles, wisely on another younger player, one with more potential, and the ability to grow. Skrtel has already passed his peak and his best performances are behind him.
Gone are the times when a bandaged Skrtel would pop one in from a corner and send Anfield into raptures. Benitez should surely take a look at other options if he is adamant about getting a new centre-back because Skrtel certainly isn’t the right option.
