Newcastle United are reportedly closing in on the signing of former Leeds United loanee Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal.
That is according to the Daily Telegraph, who claim that the Magpies are ready to conclude their January business with the triple signings of Nketiah, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes.
Nketiah is out of contract at the Emirates upon the conclusion of this season, and several clubs, including Leeds, had been linked with signing him this month.
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But despite Leeds’ ongoing injury issues this season, it is looking increasingly likely that they will not be adding to their squad this month.
A central midfielder was earmarked as their priority position, but with RB Salzburg refusing to budge from their not for sale stance on Brenden Aaronson, it looks like there will be no incomings at Elland Road.
And while midfield has been a problem area in the last 18 months, Patrick Bamford’s ongoing injury troubles over the course of the current campaign means that they have also struggled up front too.
Bamford has played just six games this season as he struggles to make a return to full fitness. Tyler Roberts, Rodrigo Moreno and Joe Gelhardt are among the options able to fill in for the 28-year-old, but they too have had fitness issues of their own.
Instead, winger Daniel James has often been tasked with filling the void of Bamford, and although he is able to cope with the demands of pressing from the front, the Welshman’s below average link up play and lack of composure in front of goal mean he is hardly a long-term solution.
Given that Nketiah is already familiar with the system under Bielsa, he could’ve provided Leeds with a decent option up front if they had chosen to pursue him.
He may also have earned more game time at Leeds, as he is likely to be behind both Chris Wood and Wilson in the pecking order when all three are at full fitness.
But having said that, his familiarity with the system does not necessarily mean he would’ve been able fit straight in again at Elland Road.
Nketiah made just two league starts during his loan spell at the club, and even during Bamford’s lengthy goal drought, he wasn’t ever trusted with leading the line.
So even though Leeds could’ve done with another body in the final third of the pitch, signing Nketiah would not have been anything more than a panic buy based on his previous stint with the club.
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