Go For It Benitez – Why Newcastle United Should Beat Brighton To The Signing Of This 25-year Old Premier League Ace

Newcastle United must Sign Carl Jenkinson In The Summer And Here’s Why

Carl Jenkinson, who has been capped once by England, has had a horrible season for Arsenal and the former Charlton defender has sparked a transfer scramble already.

Straight to the front of the queue are newly promoted Brighton and the team likely to join them in the Premier League, Newcastle United. Both clubs will be handed a transfer war chest upon arrival in the top flight and will need to use it to strengthen what are threadbare squads by top-level standards.

In Newcastle’s case, they play with a slightly more conservative style under Rafa Benitez than they have done in previous eras. Defensive solidity is paramount to the Spanish coach, the view being that with a solid foundation, the talented attacking players can go and express themselves, just as Torres and Gerrard did at Liverpool, or Ronaldo, Benzema, and Bale did at Real Madrid.

Modern attacking full-backs who can provide goals and assists are preferred all around the world, but given Benitez’ philosophy, Jenkinson would be perfect for this team. If Benitez sticks to a 4-4-2, there will be no need for full-backs to provide the width in all fairness. Newcastle desperately do need proven Premier League quality defenders to achieve their goals next season, Ryan Shawcross being another who has been heavily linked.

Although he has played only 250 minutes of football this season in the first team, Jenkinson has shown his attributes are tackling, clearing and intercepting, and would certainly improve Newcastle’s defensive line-up. His lack of games has been due, in part, to a torn knee ligament that he sustained last year, meaning he did not start the season.

His lack of game time and contract situation (he has only one year left on his current deal with Arsenal) mean that Arsenal may not command a massive fee and at 25-years-old, Jenkinson still has plenty to offer if going to the right club. Whether that club is Newcastle United or not may depend on whether he is a type of player who gets nosebleeds going any further north than Watford!

His career so far has seen him start at Charlton Athletic, take in loans at Eastbourne Borough and West Ham. It’s a heavily southern-based profile but it must also be remembered that he has a Finnish mother and represented them at under-19 and under-21 level.

One final thing to recommend Jenkinson for Newcastle is his versatility and height. As well as being a right-back by trade, Jenkinson is a very competent centre-back and as such would provide Newcastle with much needed Premier League-class cover in that position when injuries and suspensions inevitably come along in what will be a tough first season back in the big league.