Why Signing Allan Marques Loureiro Of Napoli A Good Bargain For Newcastle United?
Newcastle United are looking to sign Napoli midfielder Allan in the summer, but face stiff competition in their pursuit of the Brazilian from fellow Premier League clubs Southampton and West Bromwich Albion, who are also interested in the player, according to reports from the Sun.
The Magpies manager, Rafael Benitez, believes that the 26-year old has the necessary attributes to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League and wants to add him to the roster ahead of the season.
Allan, who was a part of the Brazil U-20 side that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup back in 2011, along with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Danilo, joined Napoli back in 2015 from Udinese, just a little while after Benitez had vacated the managerial post there. And since his arrival, the Brazilian has grown into one of the most important players for the Partenopei.
Last season, he managed 29 appearances in the Serie A for Napoli, scoring just a single goal but registering 5 assists. Since his move to the club a couple of years back, Allan has appeared 82 times, finding the back of the net on 4 occasions, and chalking up 12 assists in all competitions.
A defensive midfielder by trade, Allan has proven to be an effective operator inside his own half for the Italians and the numbers back it up too. Last season, in his 29 Serie A appearances, the 26-year old averaged a highly impressive 3.9 successful tackles for every ninety minutes he played and made 1.4 interceptions and 0.8 clearances on an average per 90 minutes. Diminutive by nature, Allan at 173cm, may not be physically imposing, but more than makes up for it with his strength and tenacity in the middle of the park.
While his contribution on the defensive side of the game is top notch, he also tends to have a great impact on the team’s fortunes going forward as well. With an excellent pass accuracy of 86.6% in the Serie A last season, Allan has displayed that he can sit deep and spray the ball around for his attacking teammates to capitalise on. The 26-year old averaged 1.6 key passes per 90 minutes last season and a tally of 12 assists in two years for a defensive midfielder operating in front of the back four is noteworthy too.
This is what makes Allan an exceptional all-round midfielder who can have an impact at both ends of the pitch for Newcastle, if signed. A dynamic presence in the centre of the pitch, the Brazilian will bring something that the Magpies lack in the squad. Benitez has Isaac Hayden and Jack Colback who can do the defensive duties, while Jonjo Shelvey is the conductor in the midfield. However, in Allan, the Tynesiders will be getting a player who can perform both the roles to great effect.
What makes the deal more enticing is the fact that the midfielder might be available for as little as £10million. At that price, in the current market, if Newcastle manage to sign him, they will have managed to strike a huge bargain; possibly one of the best bargains of the summer.