Newcastle make contact with £25M star’s agent as crisis is addressed

Newcastle United are firmly set on signing a right-winger this summer to address the lack of depth in their squad following the January transfer window.

Eddie Howe, keen to strengthen his side, faces a pressing need to bring in reinforcements after offloading two key squad players without securing replacements or upgrades to his existing lineup.

The constraints of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) during the January window forced Newcastle to adopt a sell-before-buy approach. While they managed to generate funds through sales, incoming transfers did not materialize.

The departures of Lloyd Kelly and Miguel Almirón netted the club an estimated £31 million. Almirón has experienced a strong start upon returning to Atlanta United, but Kelly’s early performances at Juventus have fallen short of expectations.

In his Serie A debut against Como, Kelly struggled to make an impact and was criticized by the Italian media for failing to inspire confidence in Juventus’ defense.

His Champions League debut against PSV Eindhoven also proved challenging, particularly against Newcastle target Johan Bakayoko. These performances have raised questions about Kelly’s ability to adapt to the demands of top-tier European football.

Currently, Jacob Murphy remains Newcastle’s only natural option on the right wing. While Murphy has stepped up admirably this season, Eddie Howe is eager to add depth and competition in this area. Sporting director Paul Mitchell has been exploring the market to identify potential targets, with Galatasaray’s Barış Alper Yılmaz emerging as a strong candidate.

The 24-year-old winger has impressed in the Turkish Süper Lig, scoring 10 goals this season as Galatasaray push for their 25th league title. Newcastle expressed interest in Yılmaz earlier in the campaign, but securing his signature will be far from straightforward.

Premier League rivals Everton, Aston Villa, and West Ham have also entered the race, while Napoli recently sent scouts to monitor his performance in Galatasaray’s Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar. Despite playing the full 90 minutes, Yılmaz struggled to influence the game, which ended in a heavy 4-1 defeat for the Turkish side.

Reports indicate that Newcastle engaged in preliminary talks with Yılmaz’s representatives in January, but a move did not materialize. However, a summer deal remains a possibility, with Newcastle reportedly willing to meet Galatasaray’s £25 million asking price. Yılmaz’s openness to a Premier League switch could work in the Magpies’ favor as they aim to bolster their attacking options.

Comparing Yılmaz’s stats to Murphy’s provides an intriguing perspective on what the Turkish international could bring to the team. This season, Yılmaz has made 21 league appearances, scoring 10 goals and registering one assist.

Meanwhile, Murphy has played an identical number of games, contributing four goals and eight assists. While Murphy has proven to be a more creative team player, providing crucial assists to the likes of Alexander Isak, Yılmaz offers a sharper edge in front of goal.

Eddie Howe’s desire to enhance Newcastle’s firepower stems from the team’s lack of diverse goalscoring options. The Magpies have relied heavily on a small group of players, recording the lowest number of different goalscorers in the Premier League this season with just eight. Yılmaz’s ability to find the back of the net could help address this imbalance and add a new dimension to Newcastle’s attack.

Although Newcastle have other players capable of covering the wing, such as William Osula and Harvey Barnes, both are better suited to roles in different positions.

The addition of a natural right winger like Yılmaz would provide more tactical flexibility and ensure Newcastle remain competitive in the fight for European qualification.

With financial restrictions easing ahead of the summer transfer window, Newcastle are well-positioned to make significant moves in the market. The sale of Kelly and Almirón has improved their standing under PSR guidelines, giving them the freedom to pursue ambitious targets like Yılmaz. As the club looks to build on its progress under Howe’s management, securing a top-quality right winger will be a key step in their evolution.

The pursuit of Barış Alper Yılmaz highlights Newcastle’s commitment to strengthening their squad with high-caliber talent. While challenges remain, the Magpies’ proactive approach and clear objectives suggest an exciting summer of transfer activity awaits.

Fans will hope that the arrival of a player like Yılmaz can help propel Newcastle to new heights, both domestically and on the European stage.