Why Wilmar Barrios to Newcastle United would bolster their midfield
As per Twitter handle Conexion Win (h/t Chronicle Live), Newcastle United are interested in Zenit St. Petersburg star Wilmar Barrios.
Barrios, 26, rose through the ranks of Deportes Tolima in his homeland and joined Argentine outfit Boca Juniors in August 2016. In his three seasons with the Argentine giants, he made 61 appearances and helped them lift the league title twice. He then moved to Russia with Zenit in February 2019.
Since then, he has gone on to establish himself as a regular member of the squad and helped them win the Russian League title in the 2019/20 campaign. Barrios has also been capped 28 times by Colombia.
He has been in sensational form for Zenit this season and his impressive performances have also attracted the attention of Serie A giants AC Milan, as per the report. Thus, Newcastle United should manage to bring him to England this summer.
The Magpies, meanwhile, fell to 13th position in the league standings despite staying in the top half of the table until December. Steve Bruce’s men have been inconsistent throughout the campaign and it is clear that they are need of reinforcements to their squad.
Barrios could add depth to Newcastle’s midfield
At the moment, only two defensive midfielders are available at Bruce’s disposal. Isaac Hayden has been a regular member of the squad but the former English U21 international fell victim to a hamstring injury and was out action for the last few games.
Matty Longstaff is another defensive midfielder in the squad but his future at the club remains uncertain. And his departure could leave the Magpies with limited options in midfield. Thus, they need to recruit an in-form defensive midfielder in the summer.
To that end, Barrios would be a fantastic signing for the club. The Colombian has been consistent in the last few years and has been an integral member for his sides. His inclusion would definitely add some much-needed depth to Bruce’s squad.
Given Longstaff’s contract situation and Hayden falling victim to an injury in the last moments of the season, Newcastle could do well by signing Barrios. He has adapted to different conditions in the last few years and that could help him settle to the conditions of the Premier League.
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Verdict
At 26, Barrios is at the right time of his life to take his game to the next level and with Newcastle, he can showcase his talent. At the same time, the Magpies would also have enough depth in their midfield even if Longstaff decides to move on.