Why Alphonse Areola Would Be A Great Signing For Newcastle United
Newcastle United are monitoring the situation of Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who is reportedly unhappy in the French capital due to a contract dispute, as per reports from France Football.
The 24-year old is reportedly upset at the fact that the club tried to sign goalkeeper Pepe Reina from Napoli and Jan Oblak from Atletico Madrid towards the end of the summer transfer window. As a result, he is unwilling to commit his future with the club post 2019, when his existing contract expires.
The Magpies were interested in the goalkeeper in the summer, with manager Rafael Benitez particularly intent on strengthening his goalkeeping ranks before the new season kicked off. However, the interest never really materialised into a formal approach, as the club did not sign any custodian before the end of the transfer window.
However, with Areola’s situation not improving, there is a chance that they might go back for the Frenchman in the coming window. It would make total sense for Newcastle to sign him.
While Rob Elliot has done very well between the sticks in the early parts of the season – Newcastle have let in just 6 goals in 7 league outings so far, the club cannot really claim to have an international quality goalkeeper, especially after having sold long-serving custodian Tim Krul to fellow league rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer. Last season’s No.1 Karl Darlow hasn’t managed to convince Benitez enough either.
The 24-year old Areola is a graduate of the PSG academy and his progress to the senior team has been very impressive. He had multiple loan spells with the likes of Lens, Bastia and Villarreal before he became a part of the senior setup in the French capital last season. Areola made 27 appearances in all competitions last campaign, managing 13 shut-outs and conceding just 21 goals, and has managed to completely usurp Kevin Trapp as the first-choice goalie for the French heavyweights this term.
Areola has played 11 times so far this campaign in all competitions, in which he has let in only 6 goals and has managed to keep a total of 7 clean sheets. An excellent shot-stopper known for his sharp reflex saves, the 24-year old exudes confidence and command in his box, and is great in penalty situations as well.
At 24 years, which is very young in terms of a goalkeeper’s age, Areola has already won a number of trophies in his career already, including the Ligue1 title and a FIFA U-20 World Cup with France back in 2013. A player with good amount of exposure at the top level and in Europe, playing for a top quality side with a taste for winning trophies, Areola could prove to be an excellent addition to the ranks at the St. James’s Park.
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