Newcastle United are eyeing a move for a highly-rated young player this summer, according to a recent report.
Eddie Howe’s side endured a torrid season with injuries but still managed to attain European football, finishing in seventh place.
Unless Manchester United defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final, they’ll be competing in the UEFA Conference League next term.
Planning will already be well underway for the fast-approaching summer transfer window as Howe and club chiefs look to bolster the squad – avoiding a repeat of the injury crisis last term.
That said, it has just emerged that they are in for one of the best young talents on the continent.
Newcastle United eye Giorgi Mamardashvili
According to The Times, Newcastle United are eager to sign Valencia shot-stopper Giorgi Marmardashvili.
The 23-year-old is valued at around £35m by the LaLiga outfit, so Howe may have to move on a player to outlay that sum of money, as the club are well aware of their spending limits.
Profit and Sustainability regulations will see a plethora of clubs sell assets before the end of the financial year in June and Newcastle are no different in that.
Howe is a ‘big fan’ of Marmardashvili and wants to bring him in to provide Nick Pope competition for the number one spot.
Giorgi Mamardashvili statistics
Mamardashvili is ‘one of the most sought-after’ players on the continent and that notion is hardly surprising when you take a closer look at his FBref statistics.
The 15-cap Georgia international sits in the one per cent for post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed compared to his positional peers across Europe, evincing his terrific shot-stopping ability.
Further, he ranks in the top 12 per cent for crosses stopped – which shows he uses his 6ft 6 frame very well.